Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for CLL and prostate cancer, as these conditions are not linked to his military service. The Veteran submitted new evidence suggesting possible exposure to herbicide agents during service at Fort Ord, but the VA examiner found insufficient evidence to link the cancers to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his income from self-employment as a farmer exceeded the poverty level and he was not unemployable.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a lack of documentation confirming the dissolution of the appellant's prior marriages, which is necessary for her to have standing with respect to these matters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient information regarding his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The RO is instructed to attempt verification of this exposure and provide a formal finding if further details are needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's prostate cancer and his service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer, status post prostatectomy, are rated at a 60 percent since July 14, 2014. The rating is effective from that date.

The Board has decided the appeal and is remanding it due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran had primary prostate cancer.

The Veteran's reduction in the rating for prostate cancer status post prostatectomy was proper, and his request for an increased disability rating for residual prostate cancer status post prostatectomy is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer with residuals, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service disease or injury related to prostate cancer and there was no presumption of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 40 percent since September 16, 2010. The effective date for service connection and an initial rating of 60 percent for fecal incontinence is set to September 16, 2010.

The Veteran's diabetes and prostate cancer, presumed to be caused by his service exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange, were found to have contributed substantially to his death. Service connection for the cause of his death is granted.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and thyroid cancer, finding insufficient evidence of herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if a higher initial rating for prostate cancer residuals can be granted, and whether the June 2020 radical cystectomy with ileal conduit, prostatectomy, appendectomy, and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection is related to service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from January 15, 2013 to November 15, 2018 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's prostate condition, which may be related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic prostate cancer, is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure in Thailand during the Vietnam Era.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate cancer is dismissed due to a jurisdictional error in the original rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.