Prostate cancer decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to January 25, 2017. However, he was granted a total rating of 100% for his service-connected ischemic heart disease and special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound criteria as of January 25, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation in the advisory medical opinion regarding the significance of DTRA/NIOSH dosage estimates and their relation to the Veteran's claim. The Veteran is asked to obtain a medical opinion from his doctors indicating that his prostate cancer was caused by radiation exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and finds at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding exposure on the perimeter of Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base. Therefore, prostate cancer is granted as service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. These conditions are presumed to be related to the Veteran's military service due to exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, prostate cancer, and hypertension are granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least approximately balanced as to whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Guam. Therefore, herbicide exposure is conceded. As the medical evidence establishes that he has CAD and prostate cancer, service connection related to herbicide agents is presumed. Service connection for hypertension is granted due to reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's neck disorder is not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, and he has a non-compensable rating for his residuals, knife wound, right forearm, with multiple surgical repairs.,The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder began in active service. Service connection is granted.,Service connection for prostate cancer is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.,Service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to service-connected neck disorder, is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for prostate cancer, cherry hemangioma, a back disability, and rhinitis due to potential Gulf War exposure.,An addendum medical opinion is needed regarding whether these conditions are related to undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer, and urinary frequency secondary to prostate cancer have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand or any other basis for service connection.

The Board has granted a maximum 60 percent rating for residuals of prostate cancer, but the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to lack of recent VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for brain aneurysm, CAD, diabetes, hearing loss, HTN, and prostate cancer due to new evidence submitted by the appellant. The cause of death claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted recognition of the Appellant as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA DIC benefit purposes. The matter is now REMANDED to issue a Statement of the Case on her claim seeking service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for various conditions, including PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including dementia), diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, hypertension, a heart disorder (coronary artery disease, status post stent placement), a circulatory disorder, bilateral eye disorders (right eye blindness, double vision in the left eye, cataracts), lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, peripheral neuropathy of each extremity, radiculopathy of each extremity, and myelomalacia. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.,The Veteran's service connection claims were denied for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including dementia), diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, hypertension, a heart disorder (coronary artery disease, status post stent placement), a circulatory disorder, bilateral eye disorders (right eye blindness, double vision in the left eye, cataracts), lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, peripheral neuropathy of each extremity, radiculopathy of each extremity, and myelomalacia.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals result in voiding dysfunction requiring daytime interval voiding less than one hour and nighttime voiding five or more times each night. The disability rating is denied as the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of his December 2015 rating decision, finding that his January 2017 Notice of Disagreement was untimely and not supported by good cause.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and chronic kidney disease with hypertension, are severe enough to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. Therefore, the Board has granted a TDIU (Total Disability Rating for Compensation Purposes Based on Individual Unemployability). Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits is also established.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 100 percent rating for prostate cancer from May 1, 2016, to May 26, 2021, and entitlement to a higher rating was denied. The Board found that the discontinuation of the 100 percent rating under DC 7528 was proper due to remission of the condition, and there is no evidence supporting a rating in excess of 40 percent for prostate cancer residuals.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure at the U-Tapao RTAFB, is found to be service-connected and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.