Prostate cancer decisions — 2018

The Veteran's prostate cancer with biochemical recurrence from October 11, 2012 to September 8, 2013 is granted a 100 percent rating. From September 8, 2013, the Veteran does not meet criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's initial ratings for residuals of prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II are granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides during his service aboard the USS Colonial in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents or any other relationship between his death and service.

The Veteran's initial rating for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating. The Veteran's prostate cancer post-prostatectomy is rated noncompensable, and his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his service, including exposure to contaminated water while serving at Camp Lejeune. The combined disability rating and TDIU claims are also remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence regarding the Veteran's employability.

The Veteran's claim for prostate cancer service connection is remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records, including those from 1991 and 2009.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors. The Veteran's claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Board has not received the signed operating room consent form for the February 2007 prostatectomy and subsequent surgeries. The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served on the perimeter of Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Bases and is currently in remission for prostate cancer, which meets the criteria for service connection due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to November 1, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that the evidence is insufficient to decide these claims and further evidentiary development is needed before decisions can be reached on the merits. This includes obtaining private medical records, scheduling VA examinations for right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, bilateral foot disorders, and prostate cancer, and verifying periods of service.

The Veteran's vision disability was not service-connected as there were no chronic eye disorders during or after service.,Prostate cancer was not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to active service, and the Board accepted VA's concession that the Veteran served at Camp Lejeune. The medical opinion concluded prostate cancer is not related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for heart disability, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are remanded due to lack of verification of herbicide exposure. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, Type II, and bladder cancer. The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred in his active military service due to herbicide agent exposure during service in Korea. Diabetes mellitus, Type II is also presumed to have resulted from such exposure. Service connection for bladder cancer is granted based on the presumption of herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer as it did not meet the criteria for direct or presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's applications for service connection of bronchial asthma, heart disorder, and prostate cancer were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for bronchial asthma. Service connection was not granted for heart disorder or prostate cancer due to lack of probative evidence establishing a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient STRs and requests for additional records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his ED, prostate cancer service connection effective date, increased rating for residuals of prostate cancer, initial rating for fecal incontinence, and SMC.