Prostate cancer decisions — 2018

The Board has found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, and depression may be associated with service. The case is being remanded to obtain VA examinations to determine the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for prostate cancer has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye condition, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and cancer of the lymph nodes due to incomplete development. The Veteran was not provided an opportunity to authorize VA to obtain private records from his treating physicians, and a new addendum opinion is needed regarding the relationship between his eye disability and in-service exposure to radar equipment.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure due to insufficient information about the Veteran's alleged in-service exposure. The JSRRC will be contacted to verify the Veteran’s claimed duty location.

The Board has decided that the RO improperly reduced the Veteran's prostate cancer rating from 100% to 60%, and remanded for further development.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's prostate cancer disability rating from 100% to 20% was proper, and denied restoration of a 100% rating. The Veteran is currently rated at 60% for prostate cancer residuals as of August 31, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for referral to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation Service to determine whether an extraschedular rating is warranted for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer, including urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of prostate cancer due to incomplete examination and lack of verification of prior service periods, exposure to pesticides and solvents, and exposure to ionizing radiation. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and there is no evidence to support a direct service connection for prostate cancer.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the 100% rating for prostate cancer to a 40% rating was proper. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for prostate cancer in remission with residual neurogenic bladder, effective May 1, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and associated conditions do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer is rated at 60% disabling and prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus (type II), and hypertension, all secondary to herbicide exposure during service at Fort Gordon.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is attributable to his service in Thailand, where he was exposed to herbicides. The Board granted the claim for service connection based on presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with a previous directive to consider the claim under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311(b).

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not manifested in service or within a year following his discharge from active duty, and the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that it is related to his service, including as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the claims of service connection for papillary urothelial carcinoma as secondary to prostate cancer and determination of cause of death. The Veteran's death was attributed to respiratory failure, idiopathic pachymeningitis, and multiple sclerosis. Service-connected conditions include prostate cancer, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction associated with prostate cancer, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for prostate cancer residuals with post-radiation dysuria and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as additional evidence was received since the February 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for right shoulder disability and prostate cancer, leading to the dismissal of these claims.