Prostate cancer decisions — 2018

The Veteran's GERD is granted as secondary to his service-connected duodenal ulcer with vagotomy, pylorplasty, appendectomy, and subtotal gastrectomy. The acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD and major depressive disorder) and prostate cancer are not found to be related to the Camp Lejeune water contamination. Erectile dysfunction remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer are manifested by voiding dysfunction requiring the use of absorbent material which must be changed less than 2 times per day, warranting a 40 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer and residuals were denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other pesticides, and the diseases are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD and prostate cancer residuals have not been rated higher than the current assigned ratings of 30 percent for PTSD and 40 percent for prostate cancer, respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active service or to exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The Board also found that the criteria for direct service connection were not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA opinion regarding whether his prostate cancer has reoccurred. The remaining claims are inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 40 percent since August 8, 2011. His tension headaches remain noncompensably disabling. The appeal for service connection for malaria is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been dismissed due to withdrawal.,Service connection for prostate cancer has been granted based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and denied entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 14, 2014, or due solely to a single service-connected disability other than polycystic kidneys thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including vision problems, back disorder, hypertension, CAD and prostate cancer, are not related to his military service. The appeals for these claims have been denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of prostate cancer and is granting it, as new and material evidence has been received since the April 2006 rating decision.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer as of October 1, 2013. The Veteran was previously rated at 40 percent and now meets the criteria for a higher disability rating due to urinary leakage requiring absorbent materials changed more than four times per day.

The Board finds that the reduction from a 100 percent disability for active prostate cancer to a 10 percent disability for the residuals of prostate cancer, based on urinary frequency, is proper.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to assess the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service exposure, and his prostate cancer may be due to herbicide exposure. The claims are granted.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate cancer, finding that his exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand is sufficient to establish presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his in-service exposure to radiation, and thus service connection cannot be established.