Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for the Veteran's listed conditions, including those related to herbicide exposure, due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is found to be the cause of his left knee DJD.,There is no evidence that the right knee DJD is related to his service or any service-connected condition. The Veteran’s right knee DJD is considered age-related degenerative changes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and incontinence due to potential exposure to herbicide agents near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for prostate cancer is being remanded due to outstanding VA and private medical records that need to be obtained.

The Board has restored service connection for residuals of prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the original denial was due to CUE. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for prostate cancer is remanded, as well as his claims for diabetic neuropathy and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 20 percent, effective May 30, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and high cholesterol as they were not related to his military service. The claim for a higher rating of pes planus with metatarsalgia was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability evaluation for service-connected erectile dysfunction, a disability evaluation in excess of 60 percent for service-connected prostate cancer, and entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, including as caused by herbicide exposure, finding that he was not exposed to herbicides during his active duty in the U.S. Army and that prostate cancer did not manifest due to this service.

The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU and remanded the issue of SMC due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran's 100% rating for prostate cancer was restored to its original level effective October 1, 2019.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is being remanded for further development to determine if his duties placed him near the base perimeter where herbicide agents were used.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 1, 2009 for the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to prostate cancer. The decision is based on newly received service department records that were not previously associated with the claims file.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction was improper, thus restoring the original service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer, diagnosed after service and presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during his military service in Thailand, should be considered service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's GERD and his service-connected conditions, including PTSD, prostate cancer, and Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Veteran will need a new examination to address these issues.

The Veteran is seeking payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical services received at St. Peters Medical Group on May 29, 2014. The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing records and authorization forms.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer as secondary to herbicide exposure, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides near the DMZ during his active military service.

The claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted due to new evidence showing a possible link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service. However, there was no herbicide exposure in Vietnam or Thailand that could be linked to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer due to exposure to an herbicidal agent. The remand also includes obtaining a supplemental opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's obesity caused by his service-connected disabilities.