Prostate cancer decisions — 2023

The Board has ordered a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected prostatitis is a 'but-for cause' of his prostate cancer or its worsening, as per recent legal precedent.

The Veteran's prostate cancer rating was reduced from 100% to 40%, effective April 1, 2014. The reduction is denied as the evidence did not show that the prostate cancer had local reoccurrence or metastasis after treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is not related to service, specifically his exposure to asbestos and prostate cancer. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's prostate cancer was caused by asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's prostate cancer is caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The claims for service connection of left shoulder, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities have been reopened. The claim for PTSD has not been reopened. Service connection was denied for spondylolisthesis and prostate cancer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, prostate cancer residuals, and squamous cell carcinoma are all granted. The claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding ionizing radiation exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for various conditions, including arthritis of the hands, OSA, PFB, prostate cancer, right shoulder arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The remaining issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction, have caused him to be unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides during service or a link between the conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a neck disability and prostate cancer due to incomplete development of the record, including verification of Reserve service status and additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to additional evidence being added to the claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims for throat cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer as they are not service-connected due to lack of evidence of ionizing radiation exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and prostate cancer (due to herbicide agent exposure) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records, and verification of his in-service herbicide agent exposure must be attempted.

The Veteran's appeal for a restoration of a 100 percent rating for prostate cancer, effective December 1, 2018, and his claim for a higher rating are both remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the status of his prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals have been rated at a maximum of 60 percent since July 13, 2023. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on predominant voiding dysfunction.

The Veteran's prostate cancer to include urinary residuals of urethritis epididymitis is rated at 40 percent prior to September 30, 2014, and from October 15, 2019, to May 11, 2023. Since May 11, 2023, the Veteran's prostate cancer to include urinary residuals of urethritis epididymitis is rated at 60 percent.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection for other conditions, including lumbar and cervical spine disorders, right shoulder and left shoulder disorders, bilateral arm and elbow condition, left hand disorder, right foot arthritis, left foot disorder, right toe disorder (except the right great toe), and left toe disorder are granted based on presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. Service connection for other conditions is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) as secondary to the service-connected left shoulder adhesive capsulitis, right shoulder status post acromioplasty, and chronic constipation. Service connection for prostate cancer is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and a thyroid disorder due to lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and Parkinson's disease are granted as due to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand.