Prostate cancer decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer should be remanded due to a lack of radiation dose estimate and further consideration by VA Under Secretary for Benefits.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was rated at 20 percent from April 1, 2010 to September 26, 2010 and at 40 percent from September 27, 2010 to April 5, 2016. The claim for higher ratings is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a digestive disorder secondary to PTSD, asbestosis rating, prostate cancer rating, and dermatitis rating due to additional development being required.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that his exposure to herbicides during service in Thailand is presumed. The Veteran's duties as a Fire Protection Specialist placed him near or on the perimeter of Udorn RTAFB, which was acknowledged by VA.

The Board has ordered remand for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, skin cancer, and thyroid disorder due to radiation exposure. The RO must obtain a dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health if it finds that the Veteran was not onboard the USS LSM 387 at Nagasaki Harbor.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, including as due to herbicide agents exposure, is denied. The Veteran's hand condition claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran's service in Vietnam with exposure to Agent Orange qualifies him for presumptive service connection for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and bone cancer are granted. Prostate cancer is granted as due to presumed in-service Agent Orange exposure, and bone cancer is granted as secondary to the now service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as there is no evidence of prostate cancer during his military service or for many years after. The Board denied the claim because the evidence did not show a link between the Veteran's service and his prostate cancer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen his hypothyroidism and sleep apnea service connection claims, and the arthritis, back condition, neck condition, high cholesterol, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer residuals, coronary artery disease, scar due to coronary artery bypass grafting, scar due to radical prostatectomy, PTSD, and rating increase claims have all been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, heart disorder, left leg tumor (prostate cancer), vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and sleep apnea were not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and military service.,There is insufficient evidence to presume exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam or Korea.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for varicose veins was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for prostate cancer residuals, status post radical retro pubic prostatectomy, was denied because his disability picture does not warrant a higher rating based on voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction.,The Veteran's claim for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for total disability.

The Board has denied service connection for cold injuries and depression. The claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet, generalized primary osteoarthritis, knee replacement resulting from bone cancer, hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes, and migraine headaches are remanded due to missing service treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, granted secondary service connection for dizziness and insomnia, and denied service connection for TBI. The effective date of the grant of service connection for prostate cancer was set at March 15, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for status post prostatectomy, rated as 20 percent disabling from June 1, 2012, was denied. The reduction in the rating from 100 percent to 20 percent effective June 1, 2012, was found proper based on evidence showing improvement and maintenance of remission.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation of his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with PTSD is remanded, and he also has an individual unemployability claim that is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred at Integrated Medical Services Radiation Oncology (IMS) in Goodyear, Arizona on July 10, 2014 is denied because the CT scan was not pre-approved by VA and did not meet the criteria for emergency care.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for prostate cancer, secondary to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or herbicide agent exposure, is remanded.

The Veteran was previously denied TDIU prior to July 29, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation. However, since July 29, 2015, the Board found that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.