Prostate cancer Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, claimed as a result of herbicide exposure, is being remanded due to the need to secure search and rescue mission records and provide an examination to determine if his prostate cancer was caused or aggravated by his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, as well as SMC for loss of use of a creative organ, are being remanded due to the need to corroborate his exposure to Agent Orange during combat missions over Vietnam. The Board will also consider whether he is entitled to hazardous duty or hostile fire pay.

The Veteran's prostatitis was rated at 20 percent prior to December 31, 2012 and increased to 40 percent from January 23, 2014 to November 30, 2014. The Veteran also received a special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance/housebound status.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer has been withdrawn. The Board dismisses this claim.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, which caused his death in November 2009, is not considered to be related to his active service or exposure to herbicides. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed prostate and skin cancers are related to his military service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, and the Veteran is now seeking service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his prostate cancer. The case is being remanded to schedule a VA examination to determine if he has erectile dysfunction caused by prostate cancer.

The Veteran's claims for increased prostate cancer and service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, and carpal tunnel syndrome have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of service connection based on exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is not causally or etiologically related to service and denied service connection for it. The Board also determined that the acquired psychiatric disability was neither caused by nor worsened beyond its natural progression by the service-connected prostate cancer, status-post prostatectomy, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's in-service exposure to radiation. The appeal is currently considered 'mixed' as some issues are granted and others are not.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, pulmonary disorder including pneumonia and COPD, and gastrointestinal disorder including peptic ulcer disease. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for tonsillectomy remains pending.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the VA psychiatrist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's depression and whether it was proximately due to or caused by his prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 100 percent effective July 21, 2008. Prior to that date, the claim for a higher rating remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation in the applicable period.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, including voiding dysfunction symptoms such as frequent urination and nocturia, were found to warrant a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent prior to August 30, 2013.

The Veteran's prostate cancer reduction from 100% to 20% was proper due to remission of the disease. The issue of increased rating and service connection for folliculitis with underlying asteatotic dermatitis are not addressed as they relate to the reduction decision.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals were rated as 60 percent disabling effective September 22, 2011. The Board found that an evaluation in excess of 60 percent was not warranted for the period after this date.,For the period prior to September 22, 2011, the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals included voiding dysfunction requiring absorbent pads changed more than four times per day, warranting a 60 percent rating. The Board found that resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant resulted in this higher rating.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for an increased evaluation for prostate cancer status post radical prostatectomy.