Prostate cancer decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable rating for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable, as he is still working and able to perform the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer was denied in May 2009 due to lack of a current diagnosis. The effective date for the grant of service connection is July 30, 2012.

The claims of service connection for COPD, skin cancer, a right hip disorder, post-operative residuals of an adrenal gland tumor, and prostate cancer are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's service treatment records show upper respiratory infections and chest pain in service. A VA examination is required to determine whether his COPD is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes. Service connection is also remanded for kidney disorder and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and residuals of hemorrhoidectomy have been granted service connection. The remaining issues on appeal (erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, peripheral neuropathy) are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the appeal for sleep apnea is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, to include as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents due to insufficient evidence of actual exposure to Agent Orange in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's prostate cancer is caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or is proximately due to his service-connected kidney cancer.

The Board has found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Guam and remanded for further development regarding his claims of neuropathy, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, type II, residuals of prostate cancer, and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The effective date issue related to nonservice-connected pension is also remanded.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicides during his active service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability remains under appeal and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for testicular cancer and skin cancer due to herbicide exposure, as well as an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of any grant of service connection is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer as due to herbicide agent exposure is denied because there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand or Vietnam, and the disease manifested many years after service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for erectile dysfunction, residuals of prostate cancer, and scars, status post prostatectomy are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's fecal incontinence is granted a 90 percent rating, effective December 9, 2014. The issue of whether the reduction from 100 percent to 40 percent for prostate cancer was proper remains pending and requires further examination.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran did not have presumptive exposure to herbicides and there is no evidence of a direct relationship between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service occurrence.,Service connection for ischemic neuropathy of the left upper extremity was also denied due to lack of a nexus between the condition and active duty service.,Prostate cancer, claimed as related to herbicide exposure, was not granted service connection because there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now considered on their merits. The Board has found new and material evidence to support the reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, prostate cancer residuals, hypertension, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. His TDIU claim was granted effective from February 1, 2015.