Prostate cancer decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The other claims of service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer resulted in leakage which requires self-catheterization, and the Board has granted a 60 percent rating for this condition effective January 18, 2019. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer and PTSD was denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for DMII is remanded, as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current medical findings. The Veteran's claim for hypertension is also remanded.,The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) requires a restricted diet and an oral hypoglycemic agent but has not required regulation of activities or insulin, resulting in a 20 percent initial rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, to include CAD; prostate cancer; and bladder issues, to include as secondary to prostate cancer. The Board found no evidence of herbicide agent exposure or direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals before the Board could make a decision on them.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination of the Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative lumbar disc disease, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction, are found to be so severe that they prevent the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 100% disability rating for prostate cancer, an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection, and an initial rating in excess of 70% for PTSD were all denied. The Veteran was granted TDIU due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while stationed in Thailand during his service, and therefore grants service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type 2, neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, and lung disorder as due to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting both lower extremities, have resulted in loss of use of his legs for the purposes of eligibility for specially adapted housing. Additionally, he is eligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including TDIU, evaluation of PTSD and other conditions, service connection for hypertension, and tinnitus. The matters are being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for burial allowance based on a non-service-connected death is denied. The claim for reimbursement of transportation expenses to bury the Veteran in a national cemetery is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and prostate cancer, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction in disability rating for prostate cancer and denied his request to restore SMC at the housebound rate due to lack of a single 100% rated disability.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. His service-connected disabilities also prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service connection for prostate cancer and its residuals is granted due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for prostate cancer with residual nerve damage, to include as secondary to chronic prostatitis, and entitlement to temporary 100 percent evaluations for left foot surgery and prostate cancer surgery with residual nerve damage.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer as due to exposure to herbicide agents because the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents while at Eglin AFB, and his claims were contradicted by official records and research findings.