Prostate cancer decisions — 2023

The Veteran's urinary incontinence and frequency, residuals of prostate cancer were granted a 60% rating from August 20, 2019 onwards. The claim for an increased rating higher than 40% was denied from June 17, 2015 to August 19, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 11, 2021. The Board found the most persuasive evidence against a finding that his disabilities prevented him from performing all types of work.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to toxic chemicals and its connection to his prostate cancer. The RO is instructed to obtain service treatment records, verify the Veteran's service within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam, and provide an opinion on whether the prostate cancer is related to TCE and/or PCE exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and the need for additional information from the Veteran regarding his employment, education, and specialized training history. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered based on the updated evidence.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective March 17, 2011 to May 15, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete record, specifically regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bladder and prostate cancer due to incomplete development. The AOJ is instructed to verify any potential exposure to asbestos during the Veteran's service aboard naval ships and track mechanic duties.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Thailand, as established by the PACT Act.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, lumbar spine disability, urinary incontinence, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as they were not related to the Veteran's active duty service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents was not verified, and there is no evidence of his presence in Vietnam.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for polycystic kidney disease has been granted. The claims for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy (both lower extremities), prostate cancer, and tinnitus have all been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to Agent Orange and other potential chemical exposures during service. The Veteran's prostate cancer is being reviewed for possible connection to such exposures.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus, both claimed as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further development regarding a kidney disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether service-connected PTSD contributed to it. The Appellant asserts the Veteran died from Alzheimer's disease and anxiety, not prostate cancer.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking the metastatic prostate cancer to service or any other condition related to service.

Service connection for prostate cancer residuals is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to burn pits, but the Veteran's claim for service connection based on environmental hazard exposure remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, left shoulder disability, coronary artery disease (CAD), tinnitus, and hearing loss, have limited him to sedentary work since October 4, 2006. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, skills, training, and work history from October 4, 2006 to January 11, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the cause of death and secondary service connection for prostate cancer metastasis to pancreatic cancer. The Veteran's cause of death was listed as pancreatic cancer, but exposure to Agent Orange is noted as a significant condition contributing to death.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, heart disability, bladder disability, bowel disability, and erectile dysfunction have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct connection to service. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient information or competent medical opinions to support these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation.,The Veteran's prostate cancer has been in remission during the period on appeal, with voiding dysfunction as the predominant residual. The current rating of 60 percent is the maximum for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including allergic rhinitis, hearing loss, and prostate cancer residuals, have rendered him unemployable since May 1, 2014. The Board finds the evidence approximately balanced as to whether his service-connected conditions meet the criteria for TDIU.