Prostate cancer decisions — 2022

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board also found that the Veteran has a current gastrointestinal or genitourinary disability, including prostate cancer and colon cancer, which may be related to his in-service exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for an inguinal hernia and sleep apnea, but has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient medical opinion supporting a link between his current condition and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the previous decision and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

Service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and prostate cancer is granted due to the PACT Act of 2022.,The PACT Act extends presumptive service connection for these conditions based on exposure in Guam during a qualifying period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and squamous cell carcinoma are granted due to the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and coronary artery disease are granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The cause of death is also granted, with the Board finding equipoise on whether service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death.

Service connection for prostate cancer, voiding dysfunction, penile implant, and an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for voiding dysfunction and a penile implant as secondary to his prostate cancer are not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer is remanded due to conflicting evidence and the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer, Parkinson's disease and/or Parkinsonism, and heart disorder are granted due to presumed in-service herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer, Parkinson's disease and/or Parkinsonism, and heart disorder under the PACT Act presumption.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer residuals made it difficult for him to function in any work environment, leading to his retirement before he originally intended. The Board found sufficient evidence to support a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable by reason of his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a higher rating for prostate cancer residuals, finding that the reduction from 100% to 60% was proper and his current disability picture is adequately covered by the existing rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings in any of his conditions, including PTSD with alcohol abuse.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for the award of a 10% rating for prostate cancer and a 20% rating, which were granted in November 2020 and January 2021 respectively.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals, prostate cancer is denied. The effective date remains at November 13, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus condition and his request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support current diagnoses of a sinus-related condition or other service-connected disabilities that would allow for a TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for groin pain and prostate cancer, finding that the evidence does not support a nexus to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand, which is presumed for diseases listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate cancer and bladder control is dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided that the discontinuation of the 100 percent rating for prostate cancer, effective June 1, 2020, was proper. The case is remanded due to a failure to seek an addendum opinion addressing side effects from hormone and/or radiation treatment.