Prostate cancer decisions — 2021

The Board restored the Veteran's 100% rating for prostate cancer effective March 1, 2015. The earlier effective date of March 1, 2015 is granted for SMC at the housebound rate and TDIU from February 6, 2008 to September 30, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disorder and prostate cancer due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions. The AOJ is directed to obtain relevant records from Augusta VAMC, request an addendum opinion on prostate cancer, and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as a result of presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination to address the Veteran's complaints of abdominal pain, bladder pain, and dysuria.

The Veteran is granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from June 1, 2015 due to service-connected prostate cancer and radiation proctitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The issues of service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea (as secondary to a psychiatric disability), and prostate cancer are all being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents at Fort Gordon and to obtain an opinion regarding whether his heart condition constitutes ischemic heart disease.

The appeal for an increased rating for urinary incontinence and frequency, residuals of prostate cancer is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, diabetes mellitus, and residuals of gonorrhea have been denied. The claim for recurrent gastritis has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a rating of 70 percent prior to April 26, 2016. He is also granted TDIU prior to that date and SMC due to being housebound since June 29, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding exposure to radiation and service connection for prostate cancer residuals. The Veteran's prostate cancer is being evaluated under a new theory of reopening on new evidence.

The appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was dismissed. The Veteran's claim of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer was granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. The matter is now to be reviewed again with a request for verification from the JSRRC.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and prostate cancer, finding no evidence of a nexus to military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding no evidence of radiation exposure or a link between his current condition and active duty.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer are granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to incomplete processing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer as there is no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service and his current condition does not meet presumptive criteria. The Veteran was stationed at Nakhon, Phanom RTAFB in Thailand but did not provide credible evidence that he served near the perimeter where herbicides were used.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and requires an expert opinion from a urologist, oncologist or other qualified physician to address specific questions regarding the Veteran's prostate cancer and lung metastasis.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection as it is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the offshore waters of Vietnam.