Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction due to insufficient secondary service connection nexus opinions. The Veteran's prostate cancer may be related to his service or prostatitis, but there is not enough evidence to determine if it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected prostatitis. For erectile dysfunction, the opinion did not address whether it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected prostatitis.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and prostate cancer due to exposure at Camp Lejeune or in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed with additional medical opinions provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his inability to require regular aid and assistance, nor is he permanently housebound by reason of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, and hearing loss. The Board finds that the evidence shows he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate efforts in obtaining medical records related to the Veteran's prostate cancer and heart disease, which are claimed as causes of death. The appellant must provide any additional treatment records or authorization for VA to obtain them.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating greater than 40 percent for prostate cancer residuals from March 1, 2013 to January 10, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not demonstrate continued active malignancy or local recurrence of his prostate cancer.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, concluding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service and specifically denying any claim based on pesticide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's osteoporosis is caused or aggravated by his service-connected prostate cancer, including treatment with radiation therapy.

The Veteran's disability rating for prostate cancer residuals was restored to 40 percent effective August 23, 2019.

Service connection for prostate cancer is granted, and the issues of service connection for bladder cancer and urothelial cancer are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while serving off the coast of Vietnam, which is necessary for establishing presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are being remanded for further development due to duty-to-assist errors. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of the Veteran’s in-service exposure to herbicide agents and noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange while stationed in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for prostate cancer, which was decided in November 2017, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The reduction in rating for diabetes mellitus from 40 to 20 percent, effective January 1, 2018, was proper. Service connection has been established for PTSD, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathies of the sciatic and femoral nerves, prostate cancer residuals, right knee disability, left knee disability, and service-connected conditions that have not resulted in a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to prostate cancer that metastasized to his liver, which was found to be the primary cause of death. The issue of DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Service connection for prostate cancer and its residuals (scar) are denied, as well as a temporary total rating for convalescence following prostatectomy.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer as secondary to service-connected prostatitis and also denied a temporary total disability rating based on hospitalization in excess of 21 days due to chronic kidney failure.