Prostate cancer decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Prostate Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, and Incontinence. The claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals regarding his adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, prostate cancer reduction from 100% to 40%, prostate cancer rating higher than 40%, and TDIU prior to January 22, 2016 are all remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its decision regarding whether the Veteran's pancreatitis is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. An addendum opinion is needed from a clinician to address this issue.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals do not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and has remanded the service connection claim for asthma.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and radar radiation during service, as well as his treatment records from a private cancer center. The AOJ is instructed to verify these exposures and obtain any relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure of the duty to assist and an error in reliance on the October 2018 VA medical opinion. The Veteran's service treatment records need to be obtained, and an addendum opinion is required from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 60 percent from February 1, 2015 to October 9, 2019. The skin disorder claim is denied as the current diagnoses do not support a finding of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, including as due to herbicide exposure, finding no evidence of in-service exposure or a link between the condition and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate efforts by the AOJ in obtaining radiation exposure information related to the Veteran's periods of service, including his reserve and active duty. The AOJ is instructed to make a new request for this information.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, including urinary leakage and frequency issues, are now rated at 40 percent effective from August 6, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, both of which are presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The left hip disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year post-service.

The Board has granted service connection for cataract of the left eye and remanded prostate cancer due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected chronic prostatitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, including as due to ionizing radiation exposure is denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 12, 2015 and a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss from January 23, 2020 to the present are also denied.

The Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is considered as likely as not the cause of his prostate cancer, which was diagnosed years after service. The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 3, 2017 and from August 2, 2017 due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for prostate cancer due to in-service radiation exposure. The prior decision failed to explain how it applied the presumption of regularity to film badges, and the Veteran's statements about his duties as a dental technician are now considered.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between any service-connected condition and the Veteran's stroke.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus (DMII), and residuals of a cerebral infarction claims due to potential recurrence or new evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand, and affords him the benefit of the doubt.