Prostate cancer decisions — 2021

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding ratings for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus due to failure of the VA Regional Office to substantially comply with previous remands. The claims are now being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to herbicide exposure. The appeal is remanded because there was insufficient information provided regarding the dates of the alleged exposure, and a VA examination was not completed as requested in the February 2020 remand.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and left leg injury, but has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically dioxin in Agent Orange, while stationed at the U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield in Thailand during the Vietnam era.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 60% from January 1, 2019. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's voiding dysfunction requires absorbent materials changed more than four times per day.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was remanded for a VA examination testing range of motion on active and passive motions, weight-bearing, and non-weight bearing. The VA examiner did not comply with these requirements.

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer, claimed as due to exposure to herbicide agents, is being remanded. The AOJ needs to verify if the USS Kitty Hawk was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam while the Veteran served on board.

The Veteran's SMP benefits at the housebound rate are granted due to his single permanent disability rated 100 percent disabling and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more. However, SMP based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person is denied as there is no evidence showing he requires such assistance.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiners who provided opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer. The appeal is reopened on new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and prostate cancer are granted as service connected due to in-service exposure to acoustic trauma and herbicides, respectively.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board found that the reduction in rating for prostate cancer from 100 percent to 20 percent, effective May 1, 2018, was proper based on improvement in symptoms and findings.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is considered service-connected, as it contributed to his death due to esophageal and bladder cancers.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for the period of January 12, 2012 to August 9, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's prostate cancer disability and its residuals are being evaluated again, including private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connections for kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer are remanded due to lack of clear exposure basis.

The reduction of the disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer from 100% to 40% was proper. The Veteran's current 40% rating is granted, and a 60% rating is warranted for the period from March 1, 2016, to February 27, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and home adaptation grant is granted due to his permanent and total disability rating from Parkinson's disease. The claim for automobile or other conveyance benefits is also granted as the service-connected disabilities result in actual loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.