The Veteran's service connection claims for bladder cancer, prostate cancer, abdominal scar secondary to these conditions, ED secondary to prostate cancer, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran's bladder and prostate cancers were caused by his in-service toxic exposure risk activities, but ultimately granted service connection for these conditions as well as their secondary effects. The abdominal scar, ED, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder are also granted based on the established link to the primary service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Bladder cancer, Prostate cancer, Abdominal scar (secondary to service-connected bladder and prostate cancers), Erectile dysfunction (ED) (secondary to service-connected prostate cancer), Other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (secondary to service-connected bladder, prostate, and ED)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 5, 2026
- Citation
- A26000516
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26000516.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease is rated at 100% effective October 25, 2024. His prostate cancer residuals are rated at 60% effective October 25, 2024.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bladder cancer, erectile dysfunction, and gouty arthropathy due to outstanding VA treatment records not being obtained. The Veteran's request for a referral to a urologist for ED is also remanded. A VA medical opinion is needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's gouty arthropathy and his service-connected conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder and kidney cancer were dismissed as the Notice of Disagreement was not filed within one year of the denial.
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