Prostate cancer decisions — 2019

The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development regarding exposure to non-ionizing radiation and a need for an addendum advisory opinion from the Under Secretary of Health.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 40 percent, effective September 1, 2017. Service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer have been granted, with a 40% rating from September 1, 2013 to November 19, 2014, and a 60% rating beginning November 19, 2014. The Veteran has also been granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to restore a 100% rating for prostate cancer residuals, finding that the reduction from 100% to 40% was proper based on evidence showing no active disease and current urinary leakage requiring absorbent materials changed 2-4 times per day.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served in Vietnam and was exposed to herbicides, including Agent Orange. Therefore, prostate cancer is presumed to be service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer have been granted due to new evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand. The conditions are presumed related to this exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of prostate cancer, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as records are missing or incomplete. The Veteran's sleep apnea and prostate cancer claims will be reconsidered in light of any new evidence.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for prostate cancer residuals from March 30, 2017. Service connection was granted for hypertension as secondary to diabetes and denied for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostatitis, urinary tract infection, urine retention, bladder incontinence, nocturia, obesity, cataracts, and fatigue was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and hepatitis C due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Board denied the restoration of a 100 percent rating for prostate cancer, finding that actual improvement had occurred and warranting a reduction to 40 percent effective January 1, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer as a result of exposure to herbicide agents, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a skin condition (claimed as a skin rash) due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, both presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand and Vietnam, are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II as secondary to in-service tactical herbicide exposure due to insufficient evidence regarding his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal of the discontinuance of a 100% evaluation for active prostate cancer treatment and assignment of a 60% disability rating for prostate cancer residuals is denied. The case is remanded for referral to consider an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted an initial rating of 100 percent, effective from July 16, 2008.