Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability and prostate cancer. The back disability and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded due to incomplete records and need additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, status post robotic prostatectomy, was rated as noncompensable from September 21, 2011 to June 9, 2013. From June 10, 2013 to December 14, 2017, the Veteran received a 40% evaluation for urinary incontinence requiring absorbent materials changed two to four times per day. Since December 15, 2017, he has been rated at 60% for needing more than four changes of absorbent materials per day.,The decision also granted an increased rating from June 10, 2013 onward.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting the VA definition of hearing loss.,Service connection for residuals, prostate cancer status post prostatectomy is denied because the evidence does not show that the condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased evaluation for his service-connected prostate cancer was dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his scleroderma disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his esophageal disorder, prostate cancer, and skin cancer are manifestations of or aggravated by his service-connected scleroderma.

The Veteran's death prevented the appellant from being substituted as a claimant for accrued benefits, as there were no pending claims at his time of death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, to include atrial fibrillation, and prostate cancer due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran served in France during active duty where he was exposed to chemical waste and burn pits without protective gear.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between his current condition and his military service, including exposure to herbicides or hypertension.

The reduction in rating to 10 percent for ischemic heart disease was improper, and requirements for restoration of the 30 percent rating have been met. The increased rating claim for IHD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of the Veteran's service personnel records and verification of herbicide exposure claims. The Veteran is entitled to a new determination on his claim for prostate cancer, including consideration of any new evidence.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in service and is denied as there is no direct evidence linking the condition to his military service. The claim for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure during service near the Korean DMZ is also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that his exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand during his military service is at least in equipoise with the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it is not a disability for which VA benefits can be awarded.,Service connection for headaches secondary to the service-connected coronary artery disease is granted. The Veteran was also granted TDIU effective June 15, 2017.

The Board has denied service connection for brain tumor with loss of balance and remanded the issues regarding the cause of death and nonservice-connected burial benefits due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is currently rated at 60 percent, but he contends that his PSA levels have increased and his doctor has determined the cancer has returned. The Board finds a need for another VA examination to determine if there is active cancer or ongoing treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to be etiologically related to his cerebrovascular accident, which the Board grants.,For the period beginning March 9, 2019, a 60 percent evaluation for prostate cancer is granted. Prior to this date, a higher rating is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, arthritis (also claimed as legs-both, right hip bad, painful), gout, bilateral eye viruses, diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disability, prostate cancer, residuals of asbestos exposure (including sinus and respiratory problems), lung cancer, and sinusitis. However, these claims were denied on the merits.

The Veteran is granted a 40 percent rating for residuals of prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction from March 5, 2015 to May 20, 2015. Prior to this period and after May 21, 2015, the Veteran's condition warrants a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is in remission with residuals of voiding dysfunction requiring absorbent materials changed less than four times per day. The Board denied a higher rating as the symptoms do not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.