Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal and has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, including atrial fibrillation, and prostate cancer are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between his in-service exposure to chemical and hazardous waste and/or asbestos and his current conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, and a kidney disorder as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not establish herbicide exposure or a link between the disorders and service.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen the claims of service connection for a vision disorder, body rash, and back disorder have been dismissed. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for left hand disorder has been granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for left knee disorder has been granted. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for left foot disorder has been granted. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for PFB has been granted.,The Veteran's petitions to reopen the claims of service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer with urinary incontinence, diabetes mellitus type II, and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), all of which were deemed to be due to herbicide exposure. The Board found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in the Korean DMZ during his active duty service was presumed. The disabilities were shown to be compensably disabling.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for a fatigue disorder, which was secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer, and TDIU has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and asbestos while stationed at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, which may have contributed to his prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his time at Korat RTAFB in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a conflict in representation and requires further action from the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal to increase his disability rating for prostate cancer, which resulted in incontinence after a radical prostatectomy, has been dismissed as he explicitly withdrew the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for prostate cancer residuals is denied as the evidence does not show any worsening of his condition that would warrant an increase beyond the current 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the cause of his death (status epilepticus) is not considered to be related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents while in Vietnam. Therefore, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 and service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death are denied.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide agent exposure as the Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess his disability picture.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion on the Veteran's prostate cancer claim and determining if his exposure to burn pits or radiation contributed to his condition.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is not service connected as it did not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and there is no causal link to his exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer have been rated at a 60 percent disability rating since August 21, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran required absorbent materials to be changed more than four times per day for his urinary leakage and granted this rating.

The Board has granted a 40% rating for the Veteran's residuals from prostate cancer, finding that his condition requires absorbent materials to be changed two to four times per day. The reduction in disability rating from 100% to 20% was proper as there was no local recurrence or metastasis of prostate cancer at the time of the June 2014 decision.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure while stationed in Thailand.