Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other environmental hazards, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for low back disability, respiratory disability (to include bronchitis and asthma), prostate cancer, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to his service in Thailand, where he served at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base and was exposed to herbicides. The Board granted service connection for the condition on a presumptive basis.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding a proposed reduction in disability rating for prostate cancer from 100% to 10%. The decision was not final as it merely provided information and did not constitute a determination by the agency.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's prostate cancer was caused by in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer due to potential exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) and radiation during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and leukemia on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran's duties placed him near the base perimeter where he was exposed to herbicides.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate cancer, right knee condition, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran had skin cancer attributable to his Vietnam service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals regarding the reduction in his prostate cancer rating from 100% to 10%, as well as his claims for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction and residuals of prostate cancer since April 1, 2018. The decision found that there was no evidence of local recurrence or metastasis of prostate cancer after April 1, 2018, and the Veteran's prostate cancer was in remission.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions were caused by exposure to jet fuel and benzene during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he had substantially gainful employment until December 31, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable prior to April 13, 2015.

The Veteran's prostate cancer with urinary dysfunction and erectile dysfunction are not rated higher than the current levels, and his TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The claim for a higher rating than 40 percent for residuals of prostate cancer is denied. The claim for TDIU, including where not moot due to concurrent 100 percent schedular disability rating, is also denied. The claim for SMC based on housebound criteria is denied.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis, status post total hip replacement, was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran’s Barrett's esophagus began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran’s prostate cancer was shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea syndromes and TDIU based on service-connected disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for the sleep apnea disability, and also noted that the Veteran’s service-connected conditions did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with its previous directives. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is being reviewed for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus have been granted. The left knee condition and psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected prostate cancer is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the assistance of another person in meeting his daily needs such as dressing, preparing meals, and medication management. The Veteran is granted SMC by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person but denied spousal aid and attendance compensation.