Prostate cancer Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation, and thus service connection cannot be established.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disorders, bilateral hip disorders, and prostate cancer. The preponderance of the evidence shows that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and back and knee conditions, require regular aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, attend to the wants of nature, and perform daily activities with coordination issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The Board will also obtain an opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities have affected his ability to work.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic prostate cancer, which began nine years prior. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Thailand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is found to be due to in-service herbicide exposure during his service in the Republic of Vietnam, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's death was caused by pancreatic cancer, which is not service-connected. The Board found no evidence that his service-connected lung or prostate cancers were the cause of his fatal pancreatic cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including adjudication of the claims for service connection as a substitute claimant.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the TDIU claim can be adjudicated. The July 2012 VA examination was inadequate as it did not address all service-connected conditions, including PTSD and hearing loss. A new social and industrial survey must be conducted to assess the Veteran's employability.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and cold injury residuals were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye condition has been reopened, and he is now receiving the maximum rating available based on his prostate cancer residuals. The initial ratings for his shoulder strain and healed fracture are also granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of ionizing radiation exposure during service, and thus the Veteran's prostate cancer cannot be linked to such exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection due to ionizing radiation exposure is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected prostate cancer residuals.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 100 percent rating for prostate cancer, effective June 1, 2012, and whether the reductions to a 0 percent rating and a 40 percent rating were proper is being remanded due to additional evidence not having been reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board finds that the reduction in the rating for prostate cancer residuals from 100 percent to 60 percent effective September 1, 2013 was proper based on improvement in the disability level and sustained improvement under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, bladder disorder (voiding dysfunction), and residual scar from radical prostatectomy are all found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 16, 2010 for a TDIU rating is denied as the evidence does not show that his PTSD symptoms rendered him unemployable prior to that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected prostate cancer residuals and any ongoing medical records should be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, prostate cancer, and hepatitis C, are found to be at least as likely as not preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. As his combined rating was 80% prior to August 1, 2012, the claim is granted for this period.