Prostate cancer decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer did not have onset in service or within one year of service and was not caused by his active military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, GI disorder, anemia, left knee disorder, CVA, and prostate cancer. The appeals were based on direct service connection rather than presumptive exposure to herbicides or other agents.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and ED are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The right and left shoulder disabilities were also not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals were rated at 60 percent effective January 21, 2014. The rating was granted as the condition caused voiding dysfunction requiring an appliance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected prostatitis, and therefore does not warrant service connection. The same applies to his claim for secondary service connection of bone cancer.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hepatitis C, prostate cancer, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's service dates and a need for an examination to determine if his prostate disability is related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer was denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and the disease did not manifest within one year of separation from service. The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate cancer is dismissed. The appeal on the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities have rendered him unemployable. The Board granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) effective April 1, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a psychiatric examination, and determining the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer with biochemical recurrence is rated at 100% from March 1, 2007 to February 19, 2008 and from February 1, 2010 to December 12, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer and acquired psychiatric disorder are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and is unrelated to active duty service or to exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board concludes that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for prostate cancer residuals from 30 percent to noncompensable is proper.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, finding new evidence sufficient to reopen the claims. The Veteran's testimony indicates he was in Vietnam in February 1970, but verification is needed regarding his presence.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is manifested by urine leakage requiring the use of absorbent materials that must be changed more than four times per day, but he does not have any signs of renal dysfunction. The criteria are not met for a rating higher than 60 percent.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and skin cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during his service in Thailand. The Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange as a result of his active duty in Thailand.