Prostate cancer decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's prostate cancer and its relationship to service, particularly asbestos exposure.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus type 2, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure. The issues of service connection for myositis (muscular myopathy), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension on a basis other than as pursuant to the PACT Act are remanded.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer from 100 to 60 percent effective December 1, 2018 was proper.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as his service-connected residuals of prostate cancer have been rated at 100% throughout the appeal period, rendering the issue moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer due to exposure at Camp Lejeune was denied again because the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and squamous cell carcinoma due to exposure to herbicide agents, including a review of his military records and potential additional research into his claimed exposures. The PACT Act is also considered in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's rectal incontinence associated with prostate cancer residuals was granted a 60% rating prior to October 31, 2018. From that date, the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and requires another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and prostate cancer have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted as they are considered presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure during his service on a Royal Thai military base in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction due to additional development being required, including consideration under the PACT Act.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, scars as secondary to prostate cancer, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The effective date was set at August 10, 2018.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, which was previously rated at 40 percent and later reduced to 0 percent, has been restored to a 100 percent rating effective May 1, 2016. The SMC based on being housebound is also restored.

For the initial rating period from January 29, 2014 to August 12, 2021, a disability rating in excess of zero percent for prostate cancer residuals is denied.,For the initial rating period from August 12, 2021 onwards, a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for prostate cancer residuals is denied.,SMC at the housebound rate is denied for the period from January 29, 2014 to September 17, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for prostate cancer due to toxic exposure, as it found that the previous examination was inadequate and did not adequately address the Veteran's reports of exposure to asbestos and diesel/petroleum carcinogens.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during service and insufficient medical evidence linking the condition to active duty.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as due to exposure to herbicide agents under the PACT Act, despite not being directly exposed on a facts found or service connection theory.

Service connection is granted for prostate cancer, which the Veteran contends was due to in-service gonorrhea. Service connection is denied for a back condition.,The Veteran's prostate cancer is service-connected as it is presumed to be related to his in-service treatment of gonorrhea. The back condition, however, does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, including voiding dysfunction, are rated at a maximum of 60 percent since April 1, 2018. The Board also granted a TDIU effective as of April 1, 2018.

The Board has found that there are outstanding VA medical records for hearing loss and new evidence submitted by the Veteran regarding in-service herbicide agent exposure. The claims are remanded to acquire these records and determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during active service.