Prostate cancer decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction as he did not properly appeal these claims using the required VA form.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and a liver condition secondary to prostate cancer have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in service that could support the Veteran's claim.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an increased rating for prostate cancer residuals and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of prostate cancer (CAP), diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the right lower extremity, lung condition including sarcoidosis, eye disorders and diseases, hypertension, and dermopathy other than melanoma are granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to exposure to water contaminants at Camp Lejeune. However, the Veteran's malignant Hashimoto’s complex metastasized is denied as there is insufficient evidence linking it to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is due to exposure to ionizing radiation during his service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, heart disability, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer due to in-service exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE). The VA is required to obtain relevant treatment records from VA facilities and a University Medical Center. A medical opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or TCE exposure.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death, finding no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer claim is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and consideration of his rising PSA levels and ongoing symptoms.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as due to herbicide exposure, have been dismissed.,The Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and cancer (including prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam, but a remand is needed to verify his exposure to herbicides while serving on Guam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 and there was no evidence linking his claimed stressor to service or any other service-connected disability. For prostate cancer and multiple myeloma, the VA examiner concluded that herbicide exposure could not be linked to these conditions due to lack of credible evidence supporting such exposure.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether VA clinicians at Tuskegee VAMC failed to diagnose his rectal cancer and/or prostate cancer in a timely manner.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer, a respiratory disability, and sleep apnea due to lack of an opinion on the etiology of the sleep apnea and because there may be outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is remanded due to the need for VA treatment records and an examination.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) after July 2016 VA surgery is remanded due to the need for clarification on whether the CVA was caused by the surgery and if so, whether it was due to carelessness or negligence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a CVA secondary to service-connected prostate cancer is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing causation of the CVA and ureter disability.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for consideration of his PTSD, CVA, and other disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, as there is insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure in Korea.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and prostate cancer disabilities have prevented him from securing or following any substantial gainful employment for the period from January 25, 2011 to September 5, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU rating during this time.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was granted service connection and a 100% rating prior to September 28, 2008. From September 28, 2008 to January 17, 2012, the Veteran received a 10% rating for residuals of prostate cancer. The appeal is pending on whether he should receive a higher rating from February 2, 2012 to April 21, 2017 (40%) and if so, what his current rating should be after that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is denied. The Veteran's left wrist disability is granted a 20 percent evaluation, but not more.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate cancer was dismissed due to his death.