Prostate cancer decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and bladder cancer were denied, as new and material evidence was not received. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type 2, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as new and material evidence was not received.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and service.,Service connection for dermatitis or eczema (claimed as dermatitis) is dismissed as already granted in a previous rating decision.,The Veteran's claims for stage IV prostate cancer with obstructive nephropathy, multiple myeloma, and type 2 diabetes mellitus are all granted due to exposure to Agent Orange during service.,Service connection is granted for multiple myeloma due to exposure to Agent Orange.,Service connection is granted for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for prostate cancer residuals and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain any outstanding private medical records from the Veteran’s private oncologist, review them, and associate them with his claim file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it was not related to his service or any service-connected conditions. The decision also remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent disabling prior to October 31, 2014, and in excess of 60 percent thereafter for service connected residuals of prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back pain, left hip pain, prostate cancer with incontinence, and diabetes mellitus due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran served as a fire truck mechanic during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and colitis. The prostate cancer claim was denied as there is no medical evidence linking it to in-service exposure to non-ionizing radiation, and the colitis claim was also denied due to lack of a link between the disability and service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for epididymitis. The claim for prostate cancer secondary to Agent Orange exposure is stayed pending resolution of a legal issue.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding chemical and biological agent exposure at Fort McClellan and a dose estimate for ionizing radiation exposure. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Veteran's PTSD and prostate cancer claims are being remanded for further evaluation. Specifically, the reduction of his prostate cancer rating from 100% to 40% effective January 1, 2013 is under review, as well as a potential increase in his prostate cancer disability rating.

The rating reduction for prostate cancer from 100 to 40 percent effective December 31, 2013 was proper. The rating reduction for prostate cancer from 100 to 40 percent effective October 1, 2012 was improper and the 100 percent rating is restored.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's prostate cancer rating from 100% to 20% effective May 1, 2014 was proper. A 60% rating for residuals of prostate cancer with urinary dysfunction is granted from May 1, 2014 to March 17, 2017. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to this date remains on appeal. The Board has also determined that the reduction was proper and denied his request for a TDIU due to lack of information regarding his employment history.

The Veteran's GERD and headaches are granted service connection. The claims for prostate cancer and bladder cancer are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including fibromyalgia, prostate cancer, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorders, colon cancer, hiatal hernia, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were based on direct service connection rather than presumptive exposure to herbicides or other conditions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection for a traumatic brain injury related to the July 1977 closed head injury in service is denied as there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the current symptoms and the service-connected residuals of a right zygomatic complex fracture with a Le Fort fracture, type I.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer, specifically whether it is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran claims that VA was negligent in not notifying him of an elevated PSA count, which allowed his prostate cancer to progress to stage 4 and ultimately led to his death. The Board finds the claim requires further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of prostate cancer has been reopened, and the issues of service connection for left and right knee conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as his pulmonary fibrosis is not shown to be related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service in the Republic of Vietnam.