Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for prostate cancer and granted it, finding new evidence sufficient to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service. However, there is no evidence of radiation exposure or actual chemical waste exposure during service, and thus service connection cannot be established.

The Board denied service connection for prostate disorder, including BPH and prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral vascular disease due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board has remanded the issues of bladder cancer, entitlement to TDIU, and SMC due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

PTSD was initially rated at 50% from January 12, 2011 and increased to 70% effective January 12, 2011. The Veteran is now granted a 100% rating for PTSD beginning November 25, 2019.,Prostate Cancer was initially rated at 100% from January 12, 2011 and reduced to noncompensable effective June 24, 2012. The Veteran is now granted a 60% rating for prostate cancer beginning January 9, 2016.

The Veteran's rating for prostate cancer was reduced from 100% to 40%, effective November 1, 2016. The reduction was proper as the condition had been in remission and no active treatment or recurrence of cancer was noted.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer and bladder cancer service connection, as well as the PTSD rating and TDIU claim due to procedural issues.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for the issues of service connection for asbestosis, prostate cancer, inguinal hernia, urinary tract infection, diabetes mellitus, and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to August 15, 2019, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating and a higher disability rating for prostate cancer residuals, as well as requesting additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a heart condition was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,Service connection for cold injury residuals and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction, depression, and prostate cancer were denied as there is no evidence of their onset during service or a link to service.,Service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a hernia, prostate cancer, and bilateral foot disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.,Further examination is needed to determine if any current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure, as there is insufficient evidence to verify his claims and further development is needed. The Veteran will need updated medical records and a VA examination to determine if his prostate cancer is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was not related to his military service. The VA examiner opined that the prostate cancer is less likely than not related to his active duty.

The Veteran's prostate cancer rating was reduced from 100% to 20%, effective November 1, 2016. The reduction and severance of SMC at the housebound rate were both proper.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, joint pain, bilateral knee disabilities, hypertension, and prostate cancer as the evidence did not show an in-service event, injury, or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for a left foot disability, right eye disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. The cases are now remanded for further development.,Service connection is denied for frostnip.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a TDIU.

A disability rating of 40 percent for prostate cancer residuals prior to October 13, 2015 is granted.,A separate, 20 percent rating for erectile dysfunction is granted throughout the appeal period. An earlier effective date for the award of a 20 percent rating for prostate cancer residuals is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, concluding that it was less likely than not caused by in-service radiation exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer due to herbicide agent exposure, as the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,The Veteran's increased ratings for residuals of prostate cancer from May 1, 2015 to November 25, 2019 are denied. A 60 percent rating was granted after that date.,A 20 percent rating for prostate surgery scars and a 20 percent rating for erectile dysfunction with a deformed penis are granted.,The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer require absorbent materials to be changed more than four times per day, but not an appliance. The Veteran has three painful prostate surgery scars that do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7804 or 7801.,The Veteran’s erectile dysfunction with a deformed penis meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating.