Prostate cancer decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for right hip limitation of flexion, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate medical opinions and need for new examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including back disability, headaches, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, bilateral foot condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and thus granting the claim based on presumed exposure.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for voiding dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer and entitlement to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance. The Veteran's claim of service connection for voiding dysfunction is reasonably raised by his contention that it is related to his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, including urinary incontinence requiring absorbent materials changed 2 to 4 times per day, are granted a 40 percent rating. The Veteran’s left side homonymous hemianopsia is denied any increase in rating.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed due to herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's meningioma and seizures are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer, including as due to herbicide agent exposure, is denied. Additionally, his claim for a 10 percent rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a combined evaluation of 90 percent disabling for his service-connected disabilities, effective July 19, 2017 is dismissed. The Board also finds that the earlier effective date of June 12, 2014 for the grant of service connection for PTSD should be remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate cancer and its relation to in-service radiation exposure. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) found that VA did not obtain all relevant records related to herbicide exposure and ordered a search for pay records, morning reports, and temporary duty orders from the Veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus II, prostate cancer, left hip disability, and right hip disability due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not provide sufficient information to request research assistance from the U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) or National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for prostate cancer due to insufficient development and compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess all residuals of prostate cancer, including bowel incontinence and muscular weakness.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed. The claim of a disability rating greater than 70 percent for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood was denied, but the Veteran received TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease prior to December 18, 2018 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher than 60 percent disability rating.,The reduction of the Veteran’s prostate cancer from 100% to 20% effective February 1, 2013 was upheld by operation of law under Diagnostic Code 7528. The Veteran's prostate cancer is currently rated as 20% due to voiding dysfunction resulting in urine leakage which requires the use of absorbent materials that must be changed less than twice per day and his increased urinary frequency resulting in nighttime awakening to void three to four times.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, was granted service connection effective October 18, 2016. The claim was filed within one year of the intent to file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of prostate cancer with residual voiding dysfunction, finding that July 2, 2013 was the earliest date of receipt of a claim by VA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, left shoulder condition, prostate cancer, and sleep apnea syndrome due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 20 percent prior to October 28, 2013, and 60 percent from October 28, 2013, to November 17, 2015. The Board has remanded the case for a separate compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has granted a 100 percent initial disability rating for radiation proctitis with irritable bowel syndrome due to prostate cancer, and special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is also granted.