Prostate cancer decisions — 2019

The Veteran's increased rating claim for prostate cancer is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's death was caused by hepatic failure due to primary hepatic carcinoma, but the cause of his prostate cancer is not service-connected. The Board denied DIC benefits and service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Korea and there is no competent evidence linking the current disability to service or as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, prostate cancer, right hip disability, arthritis, eczema, elbow disability, gout, hypertension, and bilateral hand and foot neurological disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or after the period of service.,Service connection cannot be granted because the Veteran has not provided any medical or other evidence linking his current diagnoses to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and insufficient medical evidence to link the current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to multiple conditions, none of which were service-connected. The Board denied the claim for service connection and DIC benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer and hypertension, as both conditions are claimed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's personnel records show he repaired aircraft at Royal Thai Airforce Bases Ubon and Takhli during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of sleep apnea being granted. The remaining issues were either not reopened or denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides during active service in Thailand, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for testicular cancer and prostate cancer due to exposure to chemicals or hazardous waste, as well as the reduction in benefits due to imprisonment. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is associated with herbicide exposure, but VA needs to obtain his medical records and deck logs from the USS Wallace L. Lind to determine if he served in Vietnam during a period when the ship was exposed to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the appeal is, therefore, REMANDED as directed. The Veteran needs to provide medical evidence regarding the duration, frequency, and severity of his prostate cancer symptoms. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine when the Veteran's prostate cancer went into remission and the nature and severity of any residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for an ulcer disability. The issues of service connection for the remaining conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran died from liver failure with hepatic encephalopathy secondary to lymphoma. The cause of death is not related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, cellulitis and deep vein thrombosis, major depressive disorder, prostate cancer, fibromyalgia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claim of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, neuropathy of the feet secondary to prostate cancer treatment, PTSD, and residuals of prostate cancer due to lack of sufficient medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions and denied reopening of his claims. However, it granted reopening of a claim for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure and assigned an effective date of March 10, 2003.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issues of increased ratings for PTSD, hearing loss, and prostate cancer residuals, as well as service connection for tremors. Additionally, unassociated Vet Center records are needed.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy, has been rated at 60 percent since January 25, 2016. The rating is denied as the evidence does not show entitlement to a higher rating due to urinary incontinence requiring absorbent materials changed more than four times per day.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his TDIU claim is denied.