Prostate cancer decisions — 2022

The Veteran's initial rating for prostate cancer from January 1, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show active prostate cancer or continued treatment. The issue of TDIU was dismissed as moot due to the Veteran already receiving SMC based on his total disability ratings.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred as a result of herbicide agent exposure during service at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Board denied DIC benefits and the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death because there was no established service-connected disability at the time of his death, and the evidence did not support a finding that any in-service exposure caused or contributed to his prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including memory loss and MDD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, degenerative arthritis of the spine, right leg arthritis, and left leg arthritis. The Veteran's STRs do not contain any complaints or treatments related to these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer as they were erroneously docketed twice, and the claims have been granted in a previous decision.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and hypertension as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claim of erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for prostate cancer before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction are granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure during his time in Thailand. SMC is also granted for loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected prostate cancer residuals is being remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's lung cancer, prostate cancer, and hypertension are granted as related to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection for prostate cancer is denied, and his rating in excess of 50 percent for depressive disorder is also denied. However, the Veteran was granted compensation for total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, which he claims is due to herbicide exposure during service in Korea, was denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure and the Veteran did not meet any qualifications for presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected conditions, including PTSD and prostate cancer. The Board finds that the Veteran cannot secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his physical disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood. A disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted effective November 24, 2015.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted based on his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hypertension in the record.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (Insomnia) is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for genitourinary disorder, to include BPH, is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for flat feet is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension is granted as it is presumed due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.,The effective date of service connection for CAD is set at March 1, 2017. The earlier effective dates for prostate cancer and its residuals (ED with SMC and a prostatectomy scar) are also granted based on the liberalizing law that added these conditions to presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for ED is granted as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer, with an effective date of March 1, 2017.

The Veteran is granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and bladder cancer due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.,The Veteran's cause of death was also found to be related to his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's residuals from prostate cancer resulted in nighttime awakening to void five or more times per night, which is equivalent to a 40% rating. The Veteran was denied a higher rating as there was no evidence of renal dysfunction or the use of absorbent materials or an appliance.

The Board has found that the VA examinations did not substantially comply with the remand directives and have ordered additional development for both the bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome claim and the prostate cancer claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical pain, lower back disability, bilateral foot disability, bronchitis, hypertension, stomach injury, ulcer disease, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma on a presumptive basis due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for carcinoma is remanded as there was not sufficient evidence provided by the RO.