Prostate cancer decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, TDIU, and DEA prior to April 19, 2018 were denied as the evidence did not support earlier effective dates based on inconsistent self-reports of symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service.

The Veteran was granted a 10% disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disability prior to September 26, 2013. From that date, he received a 50% disability rating.,He also received entitlement to TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's cause of death was esophageal cancer. The Board has ordered remand for addendum opinions to address the relationship between herbicide exposure and esophageal cancer, as well as the role of diabetes and hypertension in his death.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, PTSD, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and DIC benefits. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine if service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for unspecified anxiety disorder was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a 50% or higher rating.,The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities became moot as the Veteran received a 100% schedular rating for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and penile cancer due to Agent Orange exposure in Korea are remanded as the Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of these disabilities, including on a direct and secondary service connection bases.

The Board found that the reduction of the rating for prostate cancer from 100% to 40%, effective September 1, 2021, was proper. The Veteran's entitlement to a higher rating for prostate cancer as of September 1, 2021, is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied as new and relevant evidence has not been received.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's naval service and no other link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's death was not due to willful misconduct, and he met the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 by having a service-connected disability rated totally disabling for at least one year immediately preceding his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's confusion about his claims and failure to attend a VA examination. A new examination is needed to determine if urinary incontinence is related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's prostate cancer prior to July 13, 2021, does not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 40 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his hearing loss.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer are granted as service connected due to herbicide agent exposure.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE) are also granted as service connected secondary to his diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status prior to July 27, 2021 is not established, resulting in denial of special monthly pension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need to determine if he was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam, which could potentially establish presumptive service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, finding that they were granted based on a presumption due to conceded Agent Orange exposure. The effective date assigned was July 13, 2005, which is considered the earliest possible effective date given the facts found.