Prostate cancer decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. Additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and verifying the Veteran's claimed exposures.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents at Camp Lejeune. Service connection for migraine headaches is denied as there is no causal relationship established between the in-service headaches and current migraines.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer as secondary to prostatitis with prostate hypertrophy is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for a neurologic disability, to include radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, as secondary to degenerative changes of the cervical spine.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for a neurologic disability, to include radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the propriety of the reduction in rating for prostate cancer from 100% to 40%, effective August 1, 2015, and from 40% to 20%, effective December 1, 2017, is remanded. The issue of entitlement to increased rating for residuals of prostate cancer prior to December 1, 2017, and in excess of 20% thereafter is also remanded. Additionally, the Board has found that the issue of entitlement to TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the issues remanded herein and must be deferred pending adjudication of these appeal items.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 17, 2019. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of total disability due to service-connected conditions alone.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated as voiding dysfunction, which is currently at the maximum 60 percent rating. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating based on renal dysfunction or erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that his current sleep apnea is not related to his military service.,Service connection for a bilateral hand disability was denied as there is no in-service event, injury, or disease linked to the Veteran's current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation and awarded DIC based on the cause of death, metastatic prostate cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disorder as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer. The TDIU claim was also denied, with the RO finding that the Veteran is not unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding the cause of death and service connection for the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left shoulder disorder, residuals of prostate cancer (due to exposure to herbicide agents), and erectile dysfunction due to prostate cancer. The reasons are that further development is needed to obtain potentially relevant outstanding service personnel records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including a need for an examination and completion of VA Form 21-8940. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of his bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bowel dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected DMII and/or prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction are being remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility of worsening since his last examination.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at a 40 percent rating as of March 28, 2017. The Board has remanded the case to determine if there is impairment of sphincter control due to or aggravated by service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals were rated at 40 percent beginning December 20, 2012. This rating is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the residuals of prostate cancer did not warrant a higher rating than 40 percent, DM was rated at 20 percent as it required no insulin or regulation of activities, and HTN was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during their military service in the Republic of Vietnam, and service connection for this condition is granted.