Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of recent VA examination, which may have missed possible increased symptomatology. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for any outstanding medical records and must cooperate in scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, hairy cell leukemia, and diabetes mellitus are all presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as his diabetic retinopathy, are also presumed to be related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to secure certain VA treatment records and National Guard service treatment records. The appellant's testimony at the July 2020 hearing is also included in the new evidentiary record.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer residuals and fecal incontinence have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since January 13, 2012. The Board has granted an effective date of January 13, 2012 for the award of total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and lung cancer are granted as due to herbicide agent exposure during service in Thailand.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating for residuals of prostate cancer status post-prostatectomy from 100 percent to 20 percent effective October 1, 2019 is improper and void ab initio.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer due to exposure to Agent Orange. The issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction as a residual of prostate cancer is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypothyroidism, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of both legs due to additional VA treatment records being added to the record.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's time in service and his prostate cancer diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and related secondary conditions due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service, including exposure to jet fuel.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and a rating in excess of 10 percent for epididymo-orchitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that prostate cancer was related to service or exposure to various chemicals during service, including pyridostigmine bromide pills, fallout from SCUD missiles, chemicals in the air and dust storms, insect repellants, and nerve gases. For epididymo-orchitis, the Board found that the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating as it was treated with intermittent intensive management.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unemployable due to his significant past work experience as a police officer.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and radiation proctitis are not considered to be the cause of his claimed conditions, including inability to urinate, rectal hemorrhage, urethral pain, and weakened muscle in the colon or rectum. The claims for these issues have been denied.

The reduction of the evaluation for prostate cancer from 100% to 10% was proper, and the appeal for restoration of a 100% evaluation is denied. From February 1, 2019, the Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer are currently evaluated as 10% disabling.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, attributing it to the Veteran's own smoking history and obesity rather than exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and major depressive disorder, are rated at a combined 70 percent. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unable to maintain regular substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability renders him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the requirements for a TDIU. Additionally, he is eligible for SMC at the housebound rate due to his combined rating of 60 percent or more from additional service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease, both presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure, have been granted. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected conditions or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected prostate cancer was neither the principal nor a contributory cause of his death.