Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy, right ear hearing loss disability, and prostate cancer. The Veteran's LLE neuropathy claim will be remanded to allow for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer and lung cancer due to herbicide exposure, as it requires further development related to ship histories of USS Hancock, USS Ranger, or USS Bon Homme Richard.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for chronic prostatitis and the residuals of prostate cancer was denied. The highest schedular rating available is 60 percent, which corresponds to voiding dysfunction requiring the use of an appliance.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues except service connection for a left foot disability, which is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for residuals of radiation therapy for prostate cancer is dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer and cause of death due to insufficient information regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand. The appellant is required to provide additional information about her husband's exposure to herbicides during his service.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and its residuals, as well as erectile dysfunction and voiding dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has granted a 40% disability rating for the Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer, effective October 1, 2016. The decision also denied restoration of the previous 100% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer, all presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in the waters of Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in the territorial seas of Vietnam. The initial compensable ratings for residual scars from basal cell carcinoma are also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board has remanded several claims including those for lightning strike residuals, numbness in hands and toes, GERD, skin disorder, discoid lupus, cataracts, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and PTSD.

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

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, finding that the evidence did not show improvement warranting higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including prostate cancer residuals and diabetes mellitus with neuropathy. The bladder disorder and erectile dysfunction claims are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has decided to remand four issues: initial disability rating for prostate cancer residuals, disability rating for varicose veins, TDIU, and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The Veteran's VA treatment records from September 2010 onwards need to be obtained, and the claim for an increased rating for prostate cancer residuals must be referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's service aboard the U.S.S. Long Beach qualifies for the presumption of herbicide exposure based on service within 12 nautical miles of the landmass of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II are presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides during his service on the U.S.S. Reeves within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his service in Vietnam, and further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam, which is sufficient to grant service connection for prostate cancer due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.