Prostate cancer decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment status, which is necessary for determining his eligibility for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and other specified trauma and stress related disorder (formerly PTSD), have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and SMC for loss of use of a creative organ are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,No effective date is granted as there was no claim filed prior to March 14, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 29, 2021. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction are not service-connected. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer as the evidence did not show exposure to herbicide agents or Blue Water status, and the Veteran was diagnosed with prostate cancer nearly 40 years after service.

The Board has dismissed all the appeals for service connection as the Veteran passed away before a final decision could be made.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, the claims for service connection for thyroid disorder, prostate cancer, and blood pressure disorder remain denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer are rated at 10 percent prior to October 12, 2017 and granted a rating of 40 percent effective October 12, 2017 for bowel incontinence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the cause of the Veteran's death and determine if his bladder cancer was a contributing factor. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and coronary artery disease are remanded for further development regarding potential herbicide exposure. DIC and burial benefits claims are also remanded due to their dependency on the service connection decisions.

The Board has determined that the discontinuance of the 100 percent rating for prostate cancer and assignment of a 60 percent rating for voiding dysfunction were proper.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded due to insufficient verification of herbicide agent exposure during his service in Okinawa, Japan. The RO must request additional research from the MRRC to verify this exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes is linked to his bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction.,The Veteran has been granted service connection for type II diabetes, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction due to exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer are not service-connected, nor is the erectile dysfunction due to a service-connected condition. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for cysts, urinary obstruction (other than prostate cancer), vertigo, and muscle pain/joint swelling pain. The claims for right eye disorder and left eye disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's prostate cancer rating was restored, and he is now in receipt of a 100% disability rating. The Board denied his request for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and an earlier effective date for the 70% rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange or asbestos, and for further development related to service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The appeal is dismissed because the June 2020 rating decision was only a proposal to reduce the rating for prostate cancer with radical prostatectomy with hypogonadism from 100 percent to 10 percent, and not a final decision on the matter.