Prostate cancer decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer and its residuals is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 60 percent for his service-connected amputation of the left forearm pronator teres.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were granted effective August 1, 2014. He also has a claim for an earlier effective date which is being remanded.,The Veteran's new claim for service connection for heart condition was denied. His hypertension, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, prostate cancer, and tinnitus claims are all pending.,A total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer rating from 100% to 20% effective August 1, 2014 was proper. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for his prostate cancer and this rating is maintained.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and depression due to incomplete procedural development related to radiation exposure during service. The Under Secretary for Benefits will be referred the case for further consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.

The Veteran's claims of restoring a 100% rating for prostate cancer and increasing his disability rating for voiding dysfunction are being remanded due to the failure to issue a statement of the case in response to his notice of disagreement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to incomplete records, need for a VA examination, and referral for extraschedular consideration.

The claims for service connection for hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and schizophrenia have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received. The claim for service connection for a headache disorder has been reopened.,A VA opinion in May 2017 indicated that the Veteran's schizophrenia is more likely than not caused by his pyeloplasty for uretero-pelvic junction obstruction, which was aggravated by post-surgical pain.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for prostate cancer residuals is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. Additionally, the propriety of reducing his disability rating from 100% to 40% effective December 1, 2014 needs to be reconsidered.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and residuals are denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as secondary to herbicide exposure, specifically Agent Orange, during his service at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, and prostate cancer is denied. The Veteran also has a grant of service connection for intestinal residuals of colon cancer post-colectomy (prior to December 26, 2017), but not after that date. There was no compensable rating assigned for the basal cell carcinoma excision scar.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are being remanded for a more recent VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer. The cancers are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of prostate cancer, status post radical retropubic prostatectomy with bilateral lymphadectomy. The Veteran's other specified depressive disorder is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection as it can be presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand and Vietnam.

The Veteran's prostate cancer disability rating is restored to its prior 100 percent level due to the inadequacy of the examination used for the reduction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and exposure to contaminated water at Parris Island, South Carolina.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of prostate cancer and SMC are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 60 percent effective July 1, 2015. The RO properly discontinued the 100 percent rating for prostate cancer and assigned a 40 percent rating for the residuals of prostate cancer.