Prostate cancer decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims due to new VA evidence that was added without a waiver of AOJ consideration.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the Veteran's new theory of entitlement regarding exposure to arsenic, benzene, DDT, and an unknown substance used to reduce Hantavirus in service. The AOJ must develop this claim and provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety disorder) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, lung disability, back pain, hypertension, GERD, prostate cancer, and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service connected. The case is being remanded to obtain verification of herbicide exposure in Korea and to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has not decided the service connection claims for left leg and low back disabilities. The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claims of myopia, heart disability, and prostate cancer is denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for depression was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand, and a medical opinion is needed to determine if his cause of death was related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for erectile dysfunction. The issue of service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate cancer as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches and major depressive disorder. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for further medical examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports and the need for updated medical evidence.

The Veteran's prostate cancer with incontinence has required him to wear absorbent material and change it more than four times per day, which meets the criteria for a 60 percent rating. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further research into his exposure to herbicide agents in service, specifically related to C-123 aircraft at Kadena Air Base.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected prostate cancer and urinary incontinence is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, CAD with pacemaker, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to attend to the wants of nature and a mental incapacity that requires care and assistance on a regular basis. The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these service-connected conditions cause the Veteran to be in need of actual personal assistance from others, thus granting SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and papillary thyroid carcinoma, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure in Guam during the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's renal dysfunction, as a predominant residual of his prostate cancer, is granted an increased rating to 60 percent from December 1, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran did not have prostate cancer.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, and heart disability due to lack of exposure to herbicides during service and the absence of a link between these conditions and service.

The claim of service connection for hypertension is reopened and granted.,The claims of service connection for residuals of a left ankle sprain, carpal tunnel syndrome in the right wrist (to include as a result of burn scar), low back disability, right ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction associated with prostate cancer, residuals of third degree burns on the right hand, and limitation of motion of the right wrist are not reopened.,The claim of service connection for prostate cancer is granted effective from May 29, 2013.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the residuals of prostate cancer, effective June 16, 2017. The Veteran's symptoms required absorbent materials changed 2 to 4 times per day.