Veterans With Prostate Cancer are Entitled to a 100 Percent Rating for at Least Six Months After Surgery 

The Department of Veterans' Affairs' ("VA") regulations provide that a 100-percent rating will be assigned for prostate cancer, and that such rating shall continue after the surgery for at least six months.  Following the six-month period, a mandatory VA-medical examination shall be scheduled.  If the VA-rating examination finds that there is no metastasis (recurrence of cancer, most often found in the pelvic-lymph nodes or in the bones), then the residuals of voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction shall be rated, which usually means a reduction to a 10 percent rating.  

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Due Process Concerns Arise For Veterans Receiving Retroactive Benefits Based on Agent Orange Related Prostate Cancer 

In my practice, however, is is clear that the VA is not always scheduling medical examinations six months after surgery.  In most cases, the VA is scheduling a mandatory examination one year after surgery.  Of course, this is a benefit because the 100-percent rating continues for a longer period of time.  However, veterans that filed claims for Agent Orange-related prostate cancer and who are awarded service connection for prostate cancer retroactively will only receive a 100-percent rating for six months. See Tatum v. Shinseki, 24 Vet.App. 139 (2010).  In my opinion, this raises serious due-process concerns for veterans that have been fighting the VA for many years.

What to Do if You Receive a Denial or Unacceptable Rating Decision from the VA

If you are a veteran with a service-connected disability and you feel that the VA has made an unfair determination regarding your disability benefis, we urge you to contact us right away. With decades of combined experience appealing unfair Regional Office and Board of Veteran's Appeals' decisions, we are confident we can win you the benefits you deserve. When you are ready, send us a note or give us a call at (877)-629-1712. 

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Allen Dunlap 03/23/2013 03:42 AM
I have a friend that was diagnosed for service connected prostate cancer in 2004 due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. He had a prostate cancer operation in 2005. He did not file for compensation at that time. May he file now for compensation? The operation was performed at a civilian hospital. Should he get the before and after 100% compensation? I was told that his condition was an automatic 100% after diagnosis, and 100% for six months after surgery. Was the VA responsible for awarding the disability without he filing a claim? He is under that assumption. Thanks. Allen Dunlap
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Sean Kendall 03/25/2013 04:56 PM
Unfortunately, VA rules do not allow the payment of benefits prior to the filing of the claim. The Courts have held that VA is under no obligation to tell a veteran that they have a right to file a claim. Your friend can file a claim for service-connection for prostate cancer, but VA's rules will only allow payment from the date of claim. Six months after surgery, prostate cancer is rated for residuals only, usually a rating of 10 percent. It is possible that your friend filed a constructive claim for service-connection of prostate cancer. If the surgery was paid for by VA, obviously they knew the prostate cancer was related to Agent Orange exposure, so there could be a document in the file that would show he filed a claim in 2004. If he did at that time, then he would receive the retroactive benefits. The only way to know is to obtain a copy of the file and review the file.
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Pedro R. Garcia Sabido, VA Claim No. 18 189 368 02/15/2015 05:36 AM
I am interested to know whether or not my claim for acute and/or severe prostatitis due to enlarge prostate can lead to prostate cancer. The VA now denied my claim prostatitis and prostate cancer although I have proof my prostatitis claim was service-connected.
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Bob Randleman 11/21/2016 09:24 PM
I only received a rating of 100% for June, July, and August following my prostate surgery in Feb. of this year. Then it was changed to 10%. Is this normal or should I appeal their ruling? Thanks. Bob
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Ricky Williams 11/30/2017 10:25 PM
I have prostate cancer I was check in April an again in August then it was came back that I did have cancers I an now in the watch an wait program I file a claim on this but I have not heard a word in five months nothing not a word I was at camp lejeune over four years it December my paper work was in in August form my understanding its is setting on some review official desk so what should I do
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