Prostate cancer Board decisions

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals with erectile dysfunction are rated at 20 percent effective February 12, 2015. The rating for tinnitus remains unchanged.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, including genitourinary symptoms and erectile dysfunction, are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, polycythemia, residuals of frostbite of upper and lower extremities, degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The reasons were that there was no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or asbestos in service, and the current conditions did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, to include as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicides. The case is being returned for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during his service in or near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Thailand, and the Board finds service connection for residuals of prostate cancer is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing herbicide exposure during his service aboard the USS Constellation, and thus, he is not entitled to the presumption of herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis C as a result of treatment at a VA medical facility in February and March 2000.

The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma base of tongue disease, finding that the condition was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to a service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's prostate and kidney cancers are not service-connected as they are not related to his in-service exposure to asbestos. The evidence does not support a finding of herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a need for additional development, including scheduling a new hearing before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a TDIU determination and consideration of an extraschedular rating for prostate cancer residuals. The Veteran's service-connected disability is expected to impact his employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer and its residuals are not related to his exposure to carbon tetrachloride during service, as there is no scientific evidence linking prostate cancer to such exposure. The claim for service connection for residuals of prostate cancer is therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no actual exposure to herbicide agents during his service and thus no presumption of exposure applies. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have early onset peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's prostate cancer with radical prostatectomy and erectile dysfunction are rated at the lowest possible levels under VA regulations. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before a decision can be reached on the merits of the underlying claims for service connection.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer have been rated as a 20 percent disability since December 10, 2008. This rating is based on urinary frequency at night.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor has he been shown to be housebound. Therefore, the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance are not met.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's prostate cancer rating from 100% to noncompensable was proper, and granted a compensable rating for residuals of prostate cancer prior to May 4, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his residuals of prostate cancer was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from March 1, 2009 to September 30, 2013.