Prostate cancer Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, stroke, kidney disorder, lumbar spine disorder, prostate cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to a lumbar spine disorder), and bilateral eye disorder. The issues have been remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for prostate cancer, including as due to herbicide exposure, due to inadequate compliance with prior directives and need for clarification on the issue.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are granted a 20% disability rating effective May 1, 2018. The Veteran's PTSD is denied any increase in the current 70% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate development and compliance with previous directives.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to non-compliance with prior remand directives, specifically obtaining all outstanding VA treatment records from the Philadelphia VAMC.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer is dismissed as he withdrew his claim. The Board also remanded the issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability from a February 2021 VA colonoscopy, to include residuals of perforated colon.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are not entitled to a higher disability rating than currently assigned. The restoration of the 20 percent ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve in both lower extremities is granted.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer are presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, during service in Vietnam. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for prostate cancer was granted, with the effective date set at April 30, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal septum under the PACT Act, which provides presumptive service connection.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, colon cancer, and coronary artery disease as these conditions are not etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction associated with prostate cancer is denied. The claims for increased PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, treatment records, and verification of his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to in-service herbicide exposure. His erectile dysfunction, which he contends was caused by his prostate cancer, is also granted as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected due to the lack of evidence linking his terminal conditions to service. DIC benefits were also denied as he did not meet the criteria for continuous total disability rating.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, in remission residuals of radiation therapy, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the rating decision on appeal was not complete due to a failure to obtain relevant medical records prior to issuing the decision.

The Veteran's prostate cancer rating has been reduced from 100 percent to 10 percent disabling effective August 1, 2021. The Board is remanding the case due to outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and coronary artery disease on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand. The Veteran's duties as a security augmentee placed him near the perimeter of Takhli AB, which is considered sufficient exposure under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and sphincter impairment ratings were reduced, but the SMC at the housebound rate was discontinued. The Board found that a restoration of the 60 percent rating for sphincter impairment is warranted due to continued extensive leakage and frequent bowel movements.