Prostate cancer decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims.,Service connection has not been established for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lung cancer, prostate cancer, and hepatic steatosis due to potential exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case is also related to the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 19, 2016, for the award of service connection for prostate cancer was denied because there is no evidence that he filed a formal or informal claim for this condition before April 19, 2016. The earliest diagnosis of prostate cancer was on April 14, 2016.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service. His acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, is found to be secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 6, 2023 for the award of service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure in Thailand under the PACT Act. The Veteran's claim was initially denied in July 2019 and then vacated by the CAVC before being granted again in April 2023.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to insufficient efforts by the AOJ in confirming his exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The AOJ did not make a formal finding that the Veteran's exposure event could not be confirmed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II claim was also denied because the evidence did not show that it required regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as of April 27, 2018 because he has a combined disability rating of 100% for his service-connected disabilities and the appeal is moot due to the grant of a 100% disability rating.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding the reduction of prostate cancer evaluation and discontinuation of SMC benefits due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased rating of prostate cancer residuals and TDIU due to failure to comply with previous remand instructions. The RO must obtain a new VA examination to determine if renal dysfunction was a residual of the Veteran's prostate cancer treatment.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction in his prostate cancer evaluation and termination of special monthly compensation at the housebound rate has been withdrawn. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, kidney disease, and a lung disorder. The conditions are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error and potential need to comply with the PACT Act.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, malignant melanoma, and valvular heart disease. The claim of service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to a failure to provide an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of prostate cancer is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error and potential need to comply with the PACT Act.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, including voiding dysfunction requiring him to change absorbent materials more than four times a day since September 1, 2005, are granted at a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for DMII, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, multiple myeloma, and hypertension have been granted. The heart condition claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease (ischemic heart disease) and prostate cancer are granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Board has remanded the claims for accrued benefits due to the need to address intertwined issues and review the appellant's DIC claim, including a potential PACT Act presumption for liver cancer.