Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure during his active duty in Thailand. The claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service aboard the U.S.S. Independence, which could potentially grant service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not service-connected and therefore his claims for secondary service connection for abdominal metastases and erectile dysfunction were also denied.,The Veteran served in Thailand, but there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents. His prostate cancer did not manifest within one year after service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, residuals of bladder cancer, and residuals of prostate cancer. The Veteran's current conditions are linked to his in-service exposures.

The Board denied service connection for cancer of the lower back, left lung cancer, prostate cancer, cancer of the left jaw, kidney cancer, cancer of left hip, and liver cancer. Service connection was granted for stomach cancer.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all remaining issues associated with the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer residuals have been found to prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is now eligible for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that prostate cancer did not contribute substantially or materially to his death and systemic scleroderma was not related to military service including exposure to herbicides.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the RO had not reduced the Veteran's prostate cancer rating from 100% to 40%, as it continued the 100% rating in a separate decision.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding the reduction of his prostate cancer rating from 100% to 0%. The Board will schedule an examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer. The issue of a higher rating for prostate cancer residuals is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of both feet as a result of exposure to herbicides. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 22, 2013. He also received a 60 percent rating for his prostate cancer.,Due to the combination of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and prostate cancer, he is unable to find and maintain employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's prostate cancer rating from 100% to 60% effective September 1, 2018 was proper and restored the 100% rating is not warranted.

The Board has restored service connection for prostate cancer and found that the previous severance was improper.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran did not submit a proper Notice of Disagreement and subsequently withdrew his claim.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 31, 2018 for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents while serving in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were dismissed.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) is dismissed.,The appeals for service connection for a blood clot in the lung and for effective dates earlier than September 12, 2013, for prostate cancer and July 25, 2012, for bilateral hearing loss are dismissed.,An 80 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted as of February 27, 2014.