Prostate cancer decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating, effective March 24, 2023, was granted. The Board denied the request for an earlier effective date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to August 9, 2022, for a 60 percent rating for prostate cancer residuals. The evidence does not show that the Veteran required absorbent materials changed more than four times per day before this date.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection under the PACT Act. The increased rating for prostate cancer residuals, including incontinence, is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted with an effective date of June 23, 2023, due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence showed he could not work due to his conditions prior to the formal application for TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic blood infection, lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, prostate cancer, right knee disability, and right foot disability. The claims are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and prostate cancer for accrued benefits purposes due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, and the cause of death is also established.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran is currently undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for his prostate cancer, which could affect the rating reduction from 100% to 20%. The VA will need to obtain an addendum opinion to clarify this issue.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his prostate cancer residuals, including urinary frequency and incontinence, is granted. However, the request for SMC based on housebound or aid and attendance status prior to May 24, 2017, is denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure to burn pits during his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease, osteoarthritis of the right hand second digit and thumb, asthma, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), prostate cancer with prostatectomy, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, right thigh residual scar, right index finger scar, and abdomen scar, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU.

Your claim for service connection for prostate cancer has been granted, and you are now receiving a 20% rating effective November 12, 2024. However, the appeal is dismissed as your request for a higher initial rating or an earlier effective date is considered a downstream issue that requires a separate notice of disagreement.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or other link to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted a 30% rating. Service connection for COPD, emphysema, and prostate cancer are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The AOJ will consider this evidence in their review.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because he did not meet the durational requirement for a total disability rating in existence during his lifetime.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board requests verification of exposure to Agent Orange at Camp Humphries and/or Camp Casey.

The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, but has remanded the claim for a left shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for colon rectal cancer, parastomal hernia, prostate cancer, stomach pain, and lumbar spine pain. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or any other in-service event.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board requests verification of exposure to Agent Orange at Camp Humphries and/or Camp Casey.