Prostate cancer Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy due to potential herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran asserts he was exposed along or near the Korean DMZ in 1975, which may be considered based on a half-life study.

The Board dismissed the service connection claim for prostate cancer as it was already granted and in effect.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his claims, and a new examination is needed to determine if any left ankle disability is related to military service.

The Board has restored a 100 percent rating for prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy, effective November 1, 2017. The reduction in the rating from 100 to 40 percent was found improper due to evidence showing active malignancy.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure near the perimeter of Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for skin cancer due to inadequate nexus opinions from prior VA examinations. The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals and diabetes mellitus are not rated higher than their current levels.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer including residuals, finding that the Veteran's prostate cancer did not begin in service and was not related to any exposure to herbicide agents. The preponderance of evidence supported the conclusion that the disability is not linked to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not caused by any in-service incident or event, and the Board denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension are granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer (due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune), left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, both claimed as resulting from herbicide agent exposure, have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of June 22, 2011 for service connection of prostate cancer and ED, as well as SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The Board found that the award was based on relevant service records not previously obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer due to potential exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during service in Vietnam. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's service aboard the U.S.S. O'Bannon and whether it was within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam or in waters outlined by 38 U.S.C. § 1116A from February 1967 to October 1969.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction, stating he was satisfied with the current disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history for the period from January 1, 2011, to February 4, 2011, or prior to January 1, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU effective April 1, 2019. The issue of TDIU prior to September 13, 2018 is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer, and a heart condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II were denied as the medical evidence showed these conditions were diagnosed prior to their respective claims, warranting a presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since October 31, 2014. The rating for prostate cancer and associated surgical scar is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate and bladder cancer residuals have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding potential herbicide exposure during service.