Prostate cancer decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 7, 2017, for service connection for prostate cancer status post RALP was denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his prostatectomy scars received on the same day (December 7, 2017) was granted.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that no disability resulting from injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by service contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has restored a 100 percent rating for prostate cancer, effective February 1, 2019, based on the Veteran's death and the ongoing nature of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.

The Veteran's prostate cancer rating was reduced from 100% to 60%, effective April 1, 2016. The claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder with adjustment-like disorder and unspecified smoking-related disorder is denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and skin disorder are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, hairy-cell leukemia, and Parkinson's disease are granted service connection due to exposure to TCE and TCA during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for prostate cancer residuals from April 1, 2014 to July 9, 2019 and for a higher than 40 percent disability rating thereafter. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of service records and exposure allegations. The Veteran's prostate condition is being reviewed again as part of this process.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of the 100% rating for prostate cancer was denied. A 40% rating for residuals of prostate cancer from May 1, 2018 is granted. The Veteran is also granted TDIU effective May 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents are granted. The PACT Act presumption of herbicide agent exposure applies due to the Veteran's service at Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Veteran's death was due to metastatic prostate cancer, which is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam. The Board denied accrued benefits as there were no pending claims for ischemic heart disease or prostate cancer at the time of his death.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure and as secondary to service-connected sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, and prostate cancer. The issues of entitlement to an effective date prior to October 8, 2015, for a disability rating of 40 percent for service-connected prostate cancer with urinary stress incontinence (prostate cancer), and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected prostate cancer from October 8, 2015 are denied. The issue of total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory, diabetes, prostate cancer, and colon cancer conditions are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or connection to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for arthritis, hypertension, dizziness to include as secondary to hypertension, heart condition to include as secondary to hypertension, prostate cancer to include as due to asbestos and/or lead paint, lung condition to include as due to asbestos exposure, erectile dysfunction to include as secondary to medication for prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus type II to include as due to toxic exposure from a naval vessel is denied.,The Veteran's tinnitus, arthritis, hypertension, dizziness, heart condition, prostate cancer, lung condition, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded for further development.

The Board has not found substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the issue of service connection for prostate cancer. The Social Security Administration provided an ALJ decision citing medical evidence but did not provide the evidence upon which the decision was made. Another remand is required due to this omission. The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded for further development, including verifying his exposure to herbicide agents and other chemical substances during military service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection have been remanded due to insufficient development of the medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer on a presumptive basis due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his Air Force Reserve service at Rickenbacker AFB in Ohio.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a link between the conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer and myasthenia gravis due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to contaminants, chemicals, or toxins. The Veteran's service records indicate he was exposed to chemical warfare agents while working at Edgewood Arsenal. However, there is no confirmation of herbicide agent exposure as claimed.