Prostate cancer decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for benign lipomas has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for lymphoma, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and stroke are being remanded for further development.,Service connection is sought for benign lipomas, lymphoma (multiple myeloma), prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and stroke. These claims have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and analysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone cause him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 1, 2015.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's prostate cancer and associated residuals are granted based on in-service exposure, with the benefit of doubt given.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied due to lack of a causal relationship between the condition and service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's service in Vietnam. The issues of prostate cancer and spinal disability secondary to prostate cancer are still pending.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, including prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, and hypertension.

The Veteran's right foot disability is granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a manufacturing defect in the hardware used during surgery. Service connection for prostate cancer and right elbow disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU prior to December 15, 2016, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and prostate cancer residuals due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The AOJ is instructed to obtain independent medical opinions from similarly qualified providers regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's lay contentions regarding environmental effects from Eglin AFB are considered, along with the potential increased risk of contamination at the testing site.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as due to herbicide exposure during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at a maximum of 60 percent, effective August 10, 2022. The Veteran is granted a 70 percent rating for persistent depressive disorder as of January 26, 2022.,A TDIU was granted effective July 7, 2021, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions, particularly his chronic kidney disease, contributed substantially or materially to his death from intestinal perforation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and prostate cancer residuals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for restoration of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria from October 1, 2017, as he did not meet the schedular and factual criteria for SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, esophageal condition(s), diabetes mellitus, and bilateral eye condition(s) due to in-service herbicide agent exposure. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure and conduct appropriate examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer, DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, and burial benefits based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in service.

The Veteran's cause of death, prostate cancer, is not considered service-connected as there is no evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for prostate cancer as due to exposure to herbicide agents because it was granted in a previous decision and the appeal is moot.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate cancer and PTSD, finding no evidence of in-service exposure or relationship to service. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a right foot injury is remanded.