Prostate cancer decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, specifically colon cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, skin lesions, basal cell carcinoma, and cysts. The appellant is requested to provide additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates due to issues with the timeliness of his VA Form 9, and further readjudication is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU, but the issues of increased ratings for PTSD and other conditions are remanded.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the evaluation from 100 percent to 20 percent for prostate cancer residuals was proper based on the evidence showing remission of the condition and appropriate rating criteria application.

The Veteran's death was caused by prostate cancer, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death on a presumptive basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected disabilities, including bladder cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support the contention that COPD was caused by exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are denied. The appeal is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of current GERD, hypertension, and cataracts.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically during his time at U-Tapao Air Base and Andersen Air Force Base. The AOJ is instructed to conduct further research into these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bladder cancer and prostate cancer due to in-service ionizing radiation exposure. The RO did not comply with the January 2021 remand instructions, as they overlooked a response from the U.S. Army Public Health Center providing a reconstructed dose estimate of 10 millisieverts (1000 millirem) based on external radiation exposure over the Veteran's entire period of active service. The claims are now to be forwarded to VA's Undersecretary for Benefits for action consistent with 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, narrowing of the esophagus, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral vision loss due to potential exposure to herbicides during service in Panama. The case is returned for further development.

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for prostate cancer from 100% to 20% effective January 1, 2019 was proper and restored a 100% rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, specifically prostate cancer, colon cancer, and liver cancer. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and provide a medical opinion on these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with prior Board directives and need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of service personnel records and to clarify the Veteran's periods of active duty, inactive duty training (ACDUTRA), and in-service civilian employment. The claims will be reconsidered based on this additional information.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base and that this exposure is presumed due to his duties as a munitions specialist.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune likely caused his condition.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted due to his symptoms.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes are granted as due to herbicide exposure during service.,ED is granted as secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy, is rated at a 40 percent rating prior to June 15, 2017 and at a 60 percent rating from that date.,The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.