Prostate cancer decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; prostate cancer; cardiovascular disorder; SMC based upon loss of use of a creative organ; and erectile dysfunction due to potential direct links between these conditions and in-service events. The VA is required to obtain new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist and for obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, including his claimed herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for CAD with coronary bypass graft, voiding dysfunction status post prostate cancer, DM type II with ED, and hypertension are denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including a lack of verification of his National Guard service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer and hypothyroidism should be remanded due to a failure to consider potential garrison exposures associated with his military occupational specialty (MOS). The Veteran was exposed to asbestos, AFFF, and other garrison substances during his service. Further medical examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's TERA exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and prostate cancer. However, these disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for skin cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA examiners did not address the Veteran's representative's medical arguments or provide a reason why the conditions are or are not related to service/exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and conflicting TERA memoranda. Service connection will be reconsidered based on this additional information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service. The decision also noted that the Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for these disabilities is not before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the claim was not received within one year after his separation from active duty and that there is no evidence to support a diagnosis prior to November 19, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and increased rating for IVDS have been granted. The effective dates are not specified as they were granted under direct service connection.

The Veteran's attempt to appeal a November 2024 rating decision was premature as notification of the rating decision had not yet been sent by the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the claim due to inadequate TERA opinions and failure to provide a direct service connection nexus opinion. The Veteran's prostate cancer is related to his in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, but the VA examinations did not adequately address all known TERAs.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, shoulder disability, spine disability, back injury, hip disability, foot disability, cataracts, heart issues, prostate cancer, and sleep apnea were not shown to have begun during service or be related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,The Veteran's right knee disability was also not shown to have begun during service or be related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and various types of neuropathy. The Court found that VA did not provide adequate reasons and bases for its decisions regarding these claims.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability, in-service event, injury, or illness related to the Veteran's claimed conditions. Therefore, service connection for bilateral elbow condition, bilateral hand condition, bilateral knee condition, neck condition, prostate cancer, headaches, and left eye vision problem is denied.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The VA examiner will be asked to provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's psychiatric disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to his military service, including exposure to petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL products).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee condition, prostate cancer, type II diabetes, and high blood pressure. The issues of service connection for these conditions are all remanded due to a duty to assist error.