Navigation Requirement that the VA must consider reasonably raised conditions that are 2nd to Prostate Cancer
Our office deals with many cases involving prostate cancer, especially those that are presumptively service connected due to exposure to Agent Orange. Often, the VA fails to address the multitude of issues that a Veteran is experiencing due to his prostate cancer. Many times, the VA will only rate for a voiding or renal dysfunction, while ignoring residuals or requiring a separate filed claim for those residuals.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (“CAVC”) addressed these issues recently in the precedential ruling Bailey v. Wilkie, __ Vet.App. __, No. 19-2661 (January 6, 2021). The Court held that only a single evaluation can be assigned under DC 7528 for residuals of prostate cancer based on voiding or renal dysfunction, but other residuals may be compensated as secondary to prostate cancer and a formal claim is not necessary. The Court stated that 38 C.F.R. § 3.155(d)(2) states in pertinent part that VA must “consider all lay and medical evidence . . . to adjudicate entitlement to the claimed condition as well as entitlement to any additional benefits for complications of the claimed condition. . . .” This means that the “VA is required to develop and adjudicate related claims for secondary service connection for disabilities that are reasonably raised during the adjudication of a formally initiated claim for the proper evaluation level for the primary service-connected disability.” Basically, if the residuals are reasonably raised during the process of examinations, during the claim or during the adjudication process, the VA must determine if that residual should be service connected as secondary to prostate cancer. This is a great step in the right direction for Veterans who are suffering from the effects of prostate cancer and have been fighting for a proper evaluation from the VA.
