Prostate cancer decisions — 2017

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cardiomyopathy (including congestive cardiomyopathy), prostate cancer, and coronary artery disease. The Board found that these conditions were not linked to service and did not reach the level of equipoise in favor of service connection. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed heart disability and prostate cancer. Additionally, he will be provided with an SOC regarding his claims for service connection for depression, a sleep condition, hypertension, initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not incurred in or related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and cause of death are being remanded for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure in Thailand. The claim for nonservice-connected death pension is dependent on the outcome of the service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board. The case will be returned to the AOJ after the requested hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to outstanding medical records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding voiding dysfunction related to prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer has been restored to a 100% disability evaluation due to the presence of active malignancy, which precludes substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; a heart disorder (coronary artery disease); prostate cancer; and osteomyelitis of the bone (amputation of 4th and 5th toes), all presumed related to toxic herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is found to be related to his active service, including exposure to gonorrhea and asbestos. Service connection for prostate cancer is granted.

The Veteran's lung disorder is not service-connected as there is no current diagnosis of lung cancer and the VA examiner found it less likely than not related to his military service, including Agent Orange exposure.,The Veteran's prostate disorder is also not service-connected due to lack of a current diagnosis of prostate cancer. The VA examiner found it less likely than not related to his military service.

The Board denied a higher rating for residuals of prostate cancer on an extra-schedular basis, finding no evidence to warrant such a rating based on the Veteran's employment and daily life.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer were rated at 20 percent prior to May 17, 2011 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Board denied a higher rating for the period from June 22, 2005 to May 16, 2011 and denied a higher rating for the period from May 17, 2011 onwards.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran's attorney requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer was denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicides or any other basis for presumptive service connection. The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, but his claim for higher evaluations remains pending.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not manifested during his active military service, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, and the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents does not apply due to lack of evidence of in-service exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his time stationed at Camp Friendship in Korat, Thailand.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for consideration of new evidence, including a July 2016 VA examination and VA treatment records. The issue of service connection for prostate cancer remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for service connection was denied.