Prostate cancer decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for restoration of a 100 percent rating for prostate cancer, finding that the reduction from 100 to 40 percent was proper based on evidence showing no recurrence of cancer and improvement in functioning.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and development of records. The issues include bilateral foot disorder, psychiatric disorder, neurological disorders of the lower extremities, GERD, low back disorder, bilateral eye disorder, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and Type II diabetes have been granted. The claim for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is remanded due to the lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a dose estimate of his in-service radiation exposure and forwarding all records to the Under Secretary for Health.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for lower right leg, upper right leg, and right inguinal hernia repair residuals disorders. The appeal is remanded to determine the etiology of his back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,Service connection for bladder cancer is also denied due to the lack of any documented onset during active duty and insufficient medical evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer is remanded as there is no objective evidence of a current deformity of the penis that would warrant a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7522.,Service connection for prostate cancer, status post radical retropubic prostatectomy, remains denied with an initial noncompensable rating and no effective date provided.

The Veteran's service connection claim for pneumonia is denied. An increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for residuals of prostate cancer from April 1, 2013, is granted. The right ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded. Tinnitus service connection claim is also remanded. A total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for prostate cancer residuals from 60 percent to 40 percent, effective November 14, 2011, was proper as there is no evidence showing incontinence requiring an appliance or absorbent materials changed more than four times per day.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer residuals were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service records show he served as a navigator in Thailand, but there is no specific reference to the U-Tapao base. The Board finds that additional verification of his time in Thailand is needed.

The Veteran's initial 40 percent rating for prostate cancer is granted. The respiratory disability claim is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type 2 have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, and as such, the matter is being remanded to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals were rated at 20 percent prior to April 3, 2017 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin cancer has been dismissed as he requested its withdrawal. The case of his prostate cancer is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding claimed herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to missing service treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II, all presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and chronic cough, both claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of actual exposure or a diagnosis related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and obtain a medical opinion regarding whether his esophageal cancer and prostate cancer are related to this exposure.