Prostate cancer decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded because new evidence has been added to the file and he was recently awarded service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. He will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his occupational functioning.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of July 28, 2017 for entitlement to SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) at the rate intermediate between subsections (l) and (m). This decision also grants an effective date of December 2, 2010 for SMC based on need for regular A&A.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include PTSD, Meniere's Syndrome, prostate cancer, and adenocarcinoma of the lungs. The Board found that his need for regular A&A was established from December 2, 2010.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) due to herbicide exposure is granted.,An initial disability rating of 20 percent for erectile dysfunction (ED) is granted, effective from June 24, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from June 10, 2004 to April 20, 2010. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but not higher.,The Veteran's prostate cancer is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for small intestines tumor, right hemi-colectomy of cecal mass, and prostate cancer to include as secondary to exposure to herbicides due to incomplete development. The claims are related to chemical exposure while stationed in Korea.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, skin disability, and respiratory disability due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents and to provide a VA examination to diagnose any current disabilities and determine their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for prostate cancer, as it was not adequately addressed in the previous medical opinion and there are specific facts related to this Veteran's exposure to burn pits during his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease are presumed to be related to service due to exposure to herbicide agents during his naval service in the Republic of Vietnam. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for prostate cancer residuals, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant such a higher rating based on his voiding dysfunction requiring absorbent materials changed 2 to 4 times per day.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The claims for urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, which are secondary to the prostate cancer, are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with depression, tinnitus, prostate cancer residuals, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for at least some portion of the relevant period. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and lumbar spine disorder, all secondary to service-connected hepatitis C.,Service connection is not granted as there is no evidence linking these conditions directly to service or service-connected hepatitis C.

Service connection for prostate cancer is granted. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a left leg disability and total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction were denied service connection, with the Board finding insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer was granted with an effective date of July 24, 2001. The decision is based on new evidence that established exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an aneurysm was granted. Service connection is denied for the remaining conditions: emphysema, heart disability, prostate cancer, back disability, bilateral knee disabilities (left and right), and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (right and left).

The Veteran's prostate cancer and its residuals are denied as service connection is not warranted on a direct or presumptive basis due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and a respiratory disorder due to potential service connection based on herbicide exposure. The claims are held in abeyance pending further examination of the respiratory issue.