Prostate cancer decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and coronary artery disease due to exposure to herbicides at U-Tapao RTAB.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart condition, prostate cancer, and type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The remand is needed to obtain medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to herbicide exposure or not.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and a kidney condition as secondary to prostate cancer are all granted due to herbicide agent exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, with the Board finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher than 50 percent or 70 percent disability rating prior to and after July 9, 2019, respectively.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted as he met the schedular requirements and demonstrated that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of all issues on appeal, including service connection claims for various conditions and disabilities. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has determined that the cessation of a total disability rating for prostate cancer, effective September 1, 2012, was proper. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected residuals of prostate cancer is remanded due to lack of evidence of current active disease.

The Board has granted the severance of service connection for prostate cancer, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (psychiatric condition), and erectile dysfunction. The SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ was also discontinued.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer as the result of exposure to herbicide agents during military service, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents at a Royal Thai Air Force Base and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not related to his service or ionizing radiation exposure, and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during his service and thus not reaching the level of equipoise as to whether his condition is related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability and allergic rhinitis, but has remanded the issues of service connection for prostate cancer and tension headaches, as well as the issue of a 10 percent disability rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's condition likely began during his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, including those related to exposure to herbicide agents, as the evidence did not establish actual or presumed exposure and the conditions were not shown to be directly related to active duty service.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and coronary artery disease have all been granted service connection. The Veteran also received an increased rating for his depressive disorder.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating from 100% to 60% for prostate cancer was proper and denied a higher rating. The Veteran's prostate cancer is rated based on residuals, specifically voiding dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer status post prostatectomy with scars was granted effective from January 24, 2014. However, the Board found that an earlier effective date of November 16, 2012 is not warranted as the Veteran did not file a compensation claim before January 24, 2014. The liberalizing law argument was also mooted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The seizure disorder claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for prostate cancer was granted. However, the claim for service connection based on herbicide exposure was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As a result, he is granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including kidney cancer and spinal cancer, are remanded due to the need for additional medical records.,A decision on the issue of entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of both feet is inextricably intertwined with a decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for paralysis from the chest down.