Prostate cancer decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's claimed exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand, which could affect his claim for service connection of prostate cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to presumed herbicide exposure during active duty in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatica was dismissed as service connection had been severed due to overlapping symptomatology. The appeals for residuals of prostate cancer and degenerative joint/disc disease of the lumbar spine are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate disability and its residuals are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a compensation examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including blood clots, sleep apnea, prostate cancer, high blood pressure, fallen arches, and a psychiatric disorder (PTSD), have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer disability is being remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and a retrospective assessment of his employability.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. Service connection claims for other conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine injury with subsequent osteoarthritis (curved spine), pinched nerve of the cervical spine, mild degenerative changes in the left leg and knee, and prostate cancer, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. As a result, his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for status post prostate cancer associated with herbicide exposure is denied as there was no in-service exposure to herbicides and the disease did not develop within a year of discharge.

The Veteran's skin disorder and polymyalgia rheumatica are granted as due to exposure to herbicides during service.,High cholesterol, hypertension, prostate disorder (claimed as cancer), anal disorder, disorder manifested by poor blood circulation, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and disorder manifested by whole body numbness have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to service or due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). Service connection was denied for all conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bladder and prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure in Vietnam. The AOJ must search the histories of Patrol Squadron 28 and determine if any flights originated from Sangley Point, Philippines, and stopped in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of prostate cancer from June 1, 2016 forward as there was no evidence of compensable symptoms such as renal dysfunction or voiding dysfunction.

The Veteran's residuals of renal cell carcinoma are granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicides. The reduction in rating for prostate cancer from 100% to 40% effective February 1, 2014 is upheld. A separate compensable evaluation for bowel disease associated with prostate cancer is requested.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran's prostate cancer is related to his in-service exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange, specifically during summer camps at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal, leading to the dismissal of these cases.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not service-connected due to herbicide agent exposure as there is no evidence of such exposure and the claimant did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for prostate cancer due to Agent Orange exposure, but remanded for further development and an examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes mellitus type II are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.