Prostate cancer decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for hypertension is denied, and his prostate cancer residuals with BPH rating is reduced from 100% to 40%. The restoration of special monthly compensation (SMC) under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the rating decisions regarding service connection for IBS, low back disability, and TDIU. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is denied as service connection because there is no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during his active duty and the claim cannot be granted based on presumptive exposure. The Veteran's lay statements are not credible due to their vagueness regarding potential herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM II) and prostate cancer are remanded due to insufficient information regarding his exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in the Republic of Korea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's exposure to commercial herbicides at Fort Dix, which is required by the PACT Act.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for post-operative residuals of prostate cancer, finding that there is no evidence to support a finding of voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction due to his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, both linked to herbicide agent exposure. Additional development is needed to obtain all relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure during service in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II, as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in service or any other basis for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The appellant's PTSD and prostate cancer residuals are rated at 70 percent and 40 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's service connection claims for congestive heart failure, aortic aneurysm with dissection, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional development related to toxic exposure during service. The PACT Act requires VA to obtain medical opinions regarding potential links between these disabilities and in-service exposures.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 23, 2019 is denied as the evidence does not demonstrate he was unemployed or marginally employed due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for penile and urethral cancer was granted, with a 100 percent rating effective June 7, 2018. The rating was increased to 40 percent from May 6, 2022 to July 1, 2022, and to 100 percent for metastatic lung cancer starting July 1, 2022. He also received a separate 30 percent rating for erectile dysfunction with loss of use of a creative organ.

Your proposed decrease in the disability rating for prostate cancer from 60 percent to 40 percent was not reduced, so your appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional dependency compensation for his spouse was denied because he did not submit the required application form within one year of notifying VA of his dependent spouse's existence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and skin condition due to the need for VA medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during service or a causal link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The left knee disability issue requires further examination as the relationship to his right knee disability and other conditions is unclear.