Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for lymphoma, prostate cancer, and memory loss due to exposure to Agent Orange. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran's private medical records and ensure all his service personnel records are associated with his claim file.

The claim for restoration of a 100 percent rating for prostate cancer is denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for prostate cancer residuals is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new legal developments and requests for additional evidence, specifically deck logs of the USS Oriskany.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and polycythemia vera. The claims for sleep apnea syndrome, erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate cancer), and frequent urination (secondary to prostate cancer) are remanded due to the need to obtain SSA medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for the residuals of prostate cancer is denied as there is no evidence of active malignancy or significant voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at a 20 percent level, based on urinary frequency issues. The Board found the Veteran's statements regarding his voiding dysfunction credible and commensurate with a 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's claims regarding prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, including exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected residuals of prostate cancer has been denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for the cause of death due to colon cancer, as well as a request for a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer residuals prior to March 26, 2019 were denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for prostate cancer from March 26, 2019 was also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and readjudicating the service connection claims. The appeals are not about service connection via a presumption like PACT Act/Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney cancer and prostate cancer, but denied both conditions as not related to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including a lack of complete military personnel records and exposure assessment from contaminated groundwater at Air Force bases.

From December 10, 2015, the Veteran was found to be unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer were rated at a 10 percent disability rating from November 24, 2014 through February 10, 2020. The Board denied entitlement to higher ratings prior to and after this period.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but the right ear evaluation is inextricably intertwined with this issue. Therefore, a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and prostate cancer due to a lack of consideration of his lay statements regarding in-service symptoms. The case is being returned for further development, including obtaining private medical records and an updated VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder. The claims of service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer are remanded.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer are rated at a 60 percent disability effective March 1, 2015. A separate 60 percent disability rating is granted for bowel disorder as a residual of prostate cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder, prostate cancer, left wrist disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.