Prostate cancer decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and the need for additional development, including obtaining a dose estimate from the Under Secretary of Health regarding potential radiation exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and ischemic heart condition (claimed atrial fibrillation) as there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer is granted because the medical evidence establishes a link between his in-service prostatitis and his current prostate cancer.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for prostate cancer/residuals due to a lack of medical opinion regarding its etiology. The Veteran's exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) during his service in Hawaii is noted, but no addendum opinions have been obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that there is no evidence linking his prostate cancer to his military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board concluded that the Veteran's prostate cancer was more likely due to advancing age, family history, ethnicity, smoking, obesity, diet, and physical activities.

The Veteran's skin disability is related to service and granted. The claims for depression, anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hemorrhoids, diverticular disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, gall bladder disability, and hernia are denied.

The Veteran's skin disability is related to service and granted. The claims for depression, anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hemorrhoids, diverticular disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, gall bladder disability, and hernia are denied.

An increased disability rating of 40 percent for prostate cancer residuals post prostatectomy, prior to February 8, 2024, is granted.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for prostate cancer residuals post prostatectomy from February 8, 2024 forward, is denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is related to his military service, including his exposure to burn pits. Service connection for prostate cancer is granted due to the presumptive provisions of the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide agent exposure is granted, with an effective date of May 2, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he is deceased.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for prostate cancer is being remanded due to the VA's failure to obtain private treatment records from his urologist.

The Board has remanded the cases due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to benign prostate hyperplasia and his appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's prostate cancer claim is being remanded for further action.,His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims have been denied, with the latter having a maximum schedular rating already assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, specifically his medication for treatment of PTSD, is found to have contributed materially to his death. The Board concludes the evidence is in approximate balance with respect to whether the PTSD medication caused his death.

The Board granted service connection for a stomach disability, an incisional ventral hernia, and increased ratings for prostate cancer residuals, status-post appendectomy with abdominal scarring and adhesions, and scar status-post appendectomy.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was raised in the context of his initial increased rating claim for lumbosacral strain. The Board found that he did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU as set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) prior to July 23, 2019. However, on remand, his claim should be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration for a TDIU.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is due to herbicide agent exposure during his military service at Udorn Air Force Base in Thailand. The Board has found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides and concludes that service connection for prostate cancer is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to in-service exposure to toxic chemicals and diesel fuel, as well as other identified TERAs. The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus, recurrent neurological disabilities, thyroid disability, and prostate cancer are being reviewed.