Prostate cancer decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the Veteran's claimed in-service exposure to firefighting training, which may be considered a burn pit exposure. The case is being remanded for further consideration of service connection for prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder arthritis and strain, left shoulder arthritis and strain, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and prostate cancer as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or within one year after service separation.

The Board has granted effective dates of August 30, 2017 for the Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer and bone cancer as secondary to prostate cancer. The benefits also include special monthly compensation based on the statutory housebound criteria (SMC(s)(1)) eligibility and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to total disability for individual unemployability (TDIU) due to conflicting assertions regarding whether the Veteran requires more time to submit a VA Form 21-8940 and whether it is required at all. Further, a retrospective VA opinion must be obtained that provides an analysis of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability since June 2000.

The Board denied an effective date prior to February 25, 2022, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim was submitted after his disability ratings were reduced and he did not appeal this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of erectile dysfunction is denied.,The criteria for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ (SMC LOU) are not met.,The criteria for an effective date of September 22, 2018, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for hypothyroidism are met.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for prostate cancer and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran could still maintain substantial gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.

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 claim for service connection of prostate cancer is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error and potential need for further examination under the PACT Act.

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

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer with bone metastases required emergency ambulance transportation on November 9, 2018. The claim was initially denied due to lack of income eligibility for benefits, but the Veteran later received a 100% disability rating effective January 18, 2008. The Board granted payment or reimbursement of beneficiary travel expenses.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for prostate cancer due to inadequate etiological opinions and potential intermediate step between a previously service-connected disability (prostate cancer) and current obesity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, incontinence, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals from November 1, 2016 to January 19, 2022 were productive of voiding dysfunction requiring the use of an appliance or the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed more than four times per day. The Veteran was in receipt of the maximum schedular rating available for voiding dysfunction.

The Veteran's prostate cancer with incontinence and erectile dysfunction are denied as service connection, as the evidence does not support a link to exposure at Camp Lejeune or any other service-related factors.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at a 40 percent since May 7, 2021, due to the need for absorbent materials changed two to four times per day.

The Veteran's 100% disability rating for service-connected prostate cancer is restored as of August 1, 2021.

The Board has dismissed the claim for an earlier effective date for prostate cancer service connection as it is not allowed once a rating decision becomes final.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and its residuals are being remanded due to the need for further verification of his exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand, which could affect his eligibility for presumptive service connection under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer with removal of prostate surgery residuals, and hypertension are all granted as they were due to herbicide exposure at U-Tapao RTAFB.,The Veteran's skin cancer is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or herbicide exposure.