Prostate cancer Board decisions

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board found no reasonable possibility that the Veteran's prostate cancer resulted from in-service radiation exposure.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer were rated as noncompensably disabling from February 7, 2006 to October 4, 2006.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer, to include voiding dysfunction, are currently evaluated as 40 percent disabling prior to February 7, 2008 and as 60 percent disabling on and after that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for any period.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, which was present to a compensable degree and presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death from metastatic merkel cell cancer. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for cataracts and prostate cancer are being remanded as the nature of his conditions and exposure basis need further clarification. The Under Secretary for Benefits will determine if these conditions are related to ionizing radiation exposure during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claims for cause of death benefits.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate and bladder cancer were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer is found to be productive of an overall level of incapacity sufficient to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, but the VA examiner's opinion was not sufficiently tailored to his specific circumstances. The case is remanded for additional development including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for prostate cancer and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, both of which are considered 'radiogenic diseases.' The Board has determined that the claims should be remanded to allow for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's prostate cancer in remission, status post prostatectomy, is rated at 40 percent disabling due to urinary frequency of 20 times per day. The residuals of a right foot injury are also service-connected.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand. The issue of erectile dysfunction secondary to hypertension remains under review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and effective dates have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the claimed conditions or their relationship to military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, claimed as due to exposure to ionizing radiation, was not granted service connection. The case has been remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO due to the Veteran's failure to appear for an earlier scheduled hearing. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for basal cell carcinoma of the chest, to include as secondary to ionizing radiation, and entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer, to include as secondary to ionizing radiation, are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for renal failure, heart disease, prostate cancer, removal of the gallbladder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin cancer, and residuals of head trauma. The evidence does not establish herbicide exposure during active duty service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, including urinary leakage and voiding frequency issues, do not warrant an increased evaluation above the current 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of prostate cancer is denied as the disability is currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA's schedular criteria.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for prostate cancer from 100 percent to 60 percent was proper, effective October 1, 2005.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding no competent and probative evidence establishing herbicide exposure or a link to his military service.