Prostate cancer decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and hypertension under the provisions of the PACT Act, which expanded presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.,Prostate cancer is now presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service at U-Tapao Royal Thailand Air Force Base (RTAFB). Hypertension was also added as a condition that can be presumed due to such exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, with prostate cancer being related to herbicide agent exposure during service. Erectile dysfunction is also found to be secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals have been rated at 60 percent, the highest available rating for voiding dysfunction. The Board finds that his symptoms are consistent with this rating and thus denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as service-connected due to exposure to toxic chemicals during his time in service.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected based on exposure to toxic chemicals during his time in service.,The Veteran's restless leg syndrome, secondary to Parkinson's disease, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, secondary to prostate cancer, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service-connected due to exposure to toxic chemicals during his time in service.,The Veteran's urinary tract condition is granted as service-connected based on exposure to toxic chemicals during his time in service.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted as service-connected based on exposure to toxic chemicals during his time in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and he is now entitled to a 10% evaluation.,For the periods from May 2, 2018, to June 30, 2020, and beginning September 16, 2020, the Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability was granted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer has been in active malignancy throughout the entire appeal period, and he is granted an initial rating of 100 percent for his condition.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for prostate cancer and a TDIU are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence after the April 2019 SOC. The AOJ will need to review this additional evidence and issue a SSOC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded for additional development. The Board has found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims, but has not made a final determination on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, SMC based on housebound criteria, and TDIU due to a single service-connected disability. The remand is in response to issues related to the discontinuance of the 100 percent rating for prostate cancer from May 1, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer due to lack of causal relationship to service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and restored his disability ratings for left knee instability and right knee instability. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities that preclude locomotion due to multiple orthopedic and neurological conditions.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and heart condition, finding no evidence of a causal relationship to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine if it is related to service, including toxic exposure.

The Veteran's non-linear surgical scar and linear surgical scar have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA regulations.,The Veteran's prostate cancer has also been denied, with no compensable rating assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and a need for additional medical evidence. The Veteran's gastrointestinal or genitourinary disability, including prostate cancer, urinary urgency symptoms, colon polyps, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, and anal fissures, is now under consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer disability, secondary to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, is being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts by the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) to corroborate the Veteran's reported in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The AOJ is instructed to make further research requests, including consideration of articles submitted by the Veteran regarding potential herbicide exposure in Okinawa.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have met the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU as of March 31, 2020. The evidence indicates that these disabilities have prevented him from performing gainful employment since then.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have met the schedular criteria for a TDIU from June 28, 2022. The Board finds that he is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due solely to his service-connected disabilities as of May 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer has been reopened due to new and material evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in service.