Prostate cancer decisions — 2019

The Board denied the claims for service connection for prostate cancer residuals, renal cell carcinoma, and hypertension. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 40 percent, and the Board has granted this rating. The case is remanded for further evaluation of a separate psychiatric disorder as a residual of service-connected prostate cancer and for consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal seeking revision of the January 1987 rating decision that denied service connection for left shoulder disability on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) is denied. The claim for an effective date prior to June 5, 2012, for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer is also denied.

The Veteran's Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are not related to service.,There is no evidence of hypertension or prostate cancer during the claims period.,The Veteran did not have a total disability rating for any reason, including due to his service-connected disabilities.,SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status is denied as there were no service-connected disabilities at issue.,The cause of death (senile degeneration of the brain) was not related to service-connected conditions.,DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied due to lack of entitlement based on service-connected disability.,Nonservice-connected pension benefits are denied as there was no qualifying wartime service.,Nonservice-connected death pension benefits are also denied due to lack of qualifying wartime service.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and the related secondary conditions of nephropathy, retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity due to exposure to herbicides while stationed at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound status. For the period from May 1, 2018 to March 19, 2019, he was rated at 70 percent disabling due to multiple service-connected conditions. The TDIU claim is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have not more nearly approximated the criteria for a compensable (10%) rating, as there is no evidence of prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for hypertension. The claim remains denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for severe erosive esophagitis and prostate cancer on the merits. The claims remain denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for severe erosive esophagitis. The claim remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as his unemployment is not due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer has been rated at 60 percent since February 1, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating as the disability does not meet criteria for a higher rating based on voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and coronary artery disease have been granted effective July 22, 2004. The Veteran also received an effective date of August 31, 2010 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease.,The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ and Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) benefits have been granted effective July 22, 2004. The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates before July 31, 2013 for these benefits.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation due to the regular need for aid and attendance is being remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding his ability to care for himself.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinea pedis, aortic stenosis, blockage of carotid arteries, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), large B-cell lymphoma, and liver condition. The claims were not well-grounded due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal of the timeliness issue is granted, and his appeal of the underlying claims for increased rating for residuals of prostate cancer and TDIU is reinstated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer and prostate cancer, both linked to exposure at Camp Lejeune, are denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during or after his military service.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinions provided were inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining new medical opinions on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disorder and prostate cancer.

The Board has restored a 30 percent rating for ischemic heart disease, denied the TDIU claim prior to August 3, 2017, dismissed the TDIU claim on or after August 3, 2017, and granted eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) effective March 18, 2017.

Service connection for Persistent Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder is granted.,Service connection for a skin condition other than PFB, including Psoriasis and Seborrheic Dermatitis, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The new evidence submitted does not relate to this issue.,Prostate cancer was denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure or a link to Agent Orange exposure, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that prostate cancer is related to service.,Type II diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's claim for hearing loss was also denied.,Low back disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or a link to service, and the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to reopen his low back disorder claim.,The Veteran's hearing loss claim was denied.

The Veteran's requests to reopen service connection claims for various conditions were denied. The Board also remanded several issues, including a low back disability rating and hypertension rating.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer with voiding dysfunction and right below the knee amputation, residual osteogenic sarcoma of the calcaneus. The claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ was also denied.