Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while serving aboard ships in Vietnam. The claim will be reconsidered based on all available information.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate cancer was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of lymphoma of the stomach intestines, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, respiratory cancer and prostate cancer due to the Veteran's death.

Service connection is granted for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction due to service-connected conditions. The hypertension case requires further medical evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for a VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer and related residuals, including erectile dysfunction. The remand requires that the examiner consider the Veteran's exposure to chemicals during service and academic/scientific research evidence he provided.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's exposure to chemicals in Guam during his military service is at least in equipoise with the evidence and thus warrants granting of service connection.

The Veteran's lung disorder, cancer growth on back of tongue, and prostate cancer claims are remanded due to the need for further development regarding potential asbestos exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 40 percent prior to March 13, 2015 and denied for higher ratings. The Board found no evidence of voiding dysfunction requiring an appliance or absorbent materials changed more than four times per day.

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure is remanded as his unit was not listed in the DoD table of units operating near the DMZ. Additional evidence and verification are needed.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, nocturia, and prostate cancer did not manifest in service or until many years after service and there is no competent evidence that indicates any of these disorders are related to service.,There is no indication that the Veteran had nocturia in service and no evidence suggesting it is related to service. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's service aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown was within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam, which is required for presumptive service connection under the Agent Orange Act.

The Board has remanded the cases due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's ship, USS Ticonderoga, was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam while he served aboard. The decision does not address service connection based on exposure to specific hazards.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The issues of secondary service connection for incontinence, impotency, and scars are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 29, 2016 for service connection of prostate cancer is denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim before this date and thus the earliest possible effective date is February 29, 2016.

The Veteran is seeking reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his private hospitalization at St. Charles Medical Center from February 7th-11th of 2014 due to a nonservice-connected condition. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining missing VA and private hospital records, as well as securing a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's stabilization point.

The appeal for service connection for prostate cancer is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to service-connected low back pain, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded due to uncertainty about whether his units entered the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to potential in-service exposure to herbicide agents and asbestos, as well as a need for further verification of these exposures. The Veteran's prostate cancer is also under review.

The Board has remanded the cases for further investigation regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while serving on the USS Niagara Falls and whether he can be presumed exposed based on his service dates.