Prostate cancer decisions — 2018

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not related to service, to ionizing radiation exposure or to a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and type II diabetes mellitus as these conditions are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure due to a lack of evidence corroborating in-service event/injury. The diseases did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected residuals of pelvic fracture and separation of symphysis pubis with low back pain has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show improvement in the disability under ordinary conditions of life and work, and thus no increase in disability was warranted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period from February 1, 2001 to October 20, 2006.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including rectal disability, fatigue disorder, bleeding gums, hypertension, bilateral shoulder disorder, colonic polyps, ulcer, Lyme disease, diabetes mellitus, and a heart condition. The appeals are based on undiagnosed illness due to service in the Persian Gulf.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and TDIU beginning October 11, 2013. The Veteran's urinary incontinence residuals of prostate cancer are currently rated at 60 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer and lymph node cancer are not related to his active service, including exposure to toxic herbicides or asbestos. Service connection is denied for both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically attributable to his active service. The Board finds that the evidence of record supports a grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disorder, lung disorder, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and colon cancer have been denied as they are not found to be related to his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's bladder cancer was not incurred in service and is not secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer. The Board found no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for prostate cancer is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of all pertinent medical evidence.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and its residuals are being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service, but he had pending claims for Agent Orange-exposed conditions. The Board found new and material evidence for the reopening of his claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer was not caused by his in-service radiation exposure and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral athlete's foot, prostate cancer, PTSD, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability are all service-connected. The diabetes mellitus claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure are being remanded as the VA has not verified his claimed exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is in remission and the Board has awarded a 40 percent rating for residuals of prostate cancer as of March 1, 2011.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer residuals are granted with a noncompensable rating prior to June 29, 2011, and an initial compensable rating of 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer and coronary artery disease, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 24, 2012, for the award of service connection for prostate cancer was denied as there was no indication that he had prostate cancer when VA added it to the list of diseases associated with herbicide agents. The exception allowing for earlier effective dates for claims filed within one year of discharge is not applicable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the possibility of exposure to herbicide agents in service, which may trigger VA's duty to assist. Further development is needed to determine if he was exposed and whether his conditions are related to military service.