Prostate cancer decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bladder cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure at Camp Lejeune. Service connection for prostate cancer remains pending as it does not fall under the presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted from April 20, 2015 to July 6, 2015 due to his service-connected heart disability. SMC at the housebound rate prior to June 26, 2018 is denied as he did not meet the criteria for this benefit.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the claims of an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer residuals, discontinuance of SMC at the housebound rate, and entitlement to SMC based on need for aid and attendance. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and compliance with prior instructions. The Veteran's current urinary symptoms are being evaluated for potential causation by VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer due to insufficient reasoning in previous VA opinions regarding potential mustard gas exposure during service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and kidney stones. The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 50% from October 1, 2021.,Service connection for tinnitus was established as it was related to hazardous noise exposure during active military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and PTSD have been granted a 100% rating effective November 1, 2018. The Veteran has also been awarded TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service, and the current disability is not related to service.,Service connection for PTSD is denied because the claimed stressor has not been corroborated by credible supporting evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his prostate cancer and his military service or any other condition. The Board also denied entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's conceded in-service exposure to an herbicide agent caused or aggravated his erectile dysfunction, and whether a service-connected disability other than prostate cancer caused or aggravated his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence during the appeal period. The RO will issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) for these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety and depression, was dismissed. The claim of entitlement to a higher initial rating for prostate cancer is denied. The claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is denied. The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted. The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is granted. Service connection for hypertension was remanded.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for at least one year immediately preceding his death. However, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because his total disability rating was less than ten years prior to his death.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to concerns about the competency of a VA examiner.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and its residuals are being remanded for a new VA medical opinion to assess whether VA's failure to timely diagnose and/or properly treat the condition caused his disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, finding no evidence of herbicide agent exposure or a nexus to service.,Prostate cancer was not found to be related to service due to lack of in-service diagnosis and no evidence linking it to service. Erectile dysfunction was also not linked to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; prostate cancer; precancerous colon mass; and atrial fibrillation have been denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection was not granted due to lack of actual or presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.