Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and prostate cancer disabilities are of such severity that they prevent him from securing or maintaining gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and ischemic stroke were denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection. His claim for prostate cancer, however, was granted based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the cases for further review to determine if the appellant's ship was within the territorial sea of Vietnam, which could affect his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and the skin disorder service connection claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the reduction in disability rating for prostate cancer from 100% to noncompensable was proper, and a 20% rating is granted for residuals of prostate cancer. The Veteran's contentions regarding worsening symptoms are not supported by evidence.

The appeal for service connection of a sleep disorder is dismissed. The effective date for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ is denied as it cannot be earlier than January 20, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and contaminated water during his active duty training (ADT) in Gulfport, Mississippi, is related to his current condition.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and skin disorders are being remanded for further examination and evaluation. The rating for prostate cancer will be reassessed, and the service connection for a skin disorder will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claims for the periods prior to February 1, 2017 and from December 1, 2018 were denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of employment. The claim for TDIU during the period from February 1, 2017 to December 1, 2018 was dismissed as moot due to receipt of SMC based on a combined schedular evaluation of 100 percent.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remands the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA examination and a need for further medical opinion regarding the cause of prostate cancer, including exposure to cadmium.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 40 percent and no higher.,Diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent and no higher.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, dermatitis on the right and left legs, and scar formation of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was granted service connection.,Service connection was also granted for prostate cancer, diabetic retinopathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation of his claims related to peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is denied service connection as it is not related to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicide agents. His erectile dysfunction is also denied as there is no evidence linking it to his prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 60 percent, requiring absorbent materials to be changed more than four times a day.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction are granted as service connected, with the Board finding that both conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the discontinuance of the 100 percent rating for service-connected prostate cancer was proper and a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.