How Does The VA Assign Prostate Cancer Disability Ratings?
The VA offers disability benefits for various prostate issues linked to military service. Prostate cancer, voiding dysfunction, frequent urination, enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence are among the conditions that might be associated with a veteran's military service.
Prostate cancer receives a 100% rating, while other prostate conditions are rated between 0% and 60% based on the severity and symptoms of each condition.
What Is Prostate Cancer?
Cancer develops when cells in the body experience uncontrolled growth. Prostate cancer arises when cells grow uncontrollably within the prostate gland. This gland is situated beneath the bladder and behind the seminal vesicles and is responsible for producing a significant portion of semen's fluid. Additionally, the prostate contributes to "creating some of the fluid that forms part of semen."
Almost all prostate cancer types are adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas originate from gland cells. Other cancer types could develop in the prostate, including small cell carcinomas, sarcomas, neuroendocrine tumors, and transitional cell carcinomas. Typically, prostate cancer has a slow growth rate, but certain variations can expand rapidly.
Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
Challenges with urination, notably heightened urge to urinate or a feeble urinary stream.
- Semen or bloody urine
- Erectile dysfunction
- Chest, hip or back pain
- Weakness or numbness
- Bowel control or loss of bladder
How Does The VA Assign VA Disability Rating For Prostate Cancer?
After confirming the service connection, the VA assesses prostate cancer by considering its activity status. If the cancer is currently active, the VA typically designates a 100% disability rating automatically. In cases where the cancer enters remission, the VA examines each residual aspect of the cancer and assigns ratings corresponding to their respective severity levels.
Listed below are several typical aftereffects of prostate cancer and their corresponding ratings.
Urinary Incontinence
Ratings for urinary incontinence fall within the Voiding Dysfunction category, with levels ranging from 20% to 60% disabling. These ratings are determined by how frequently a veteran requires changes to their absorbent materials due to incontinence. These materials encompass items like adult diapers or pads. To qualify for the 60% rating, absorbent materials should be changed four or more times per day.
Frequent Urination
The rating scale for urinary frequency varies from 10% to 40% disabling based on the time between voiding instances. A 10% rating necessitates a "daytime voiding interval between two to three hours, or awakening to void two times per night." To meet the criteria for a 40% rating, your condition must involve a "daytime voiding interval less than one hour, or waking up to void five or more times per night."
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a frequent outcome of prostate cancer. The VA typically provides a 0% rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction unless the loss of erectile function accompanies a deformity. Nevertheless, obtaining service connection for erectile dysfunction makes a veteran qualified for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) due to the loss of use of a reproductive organ. Starting from 2018, SMC (k) equals $105.61 monthly.
These represent only a limited number of typical aftereffects, and some veterans might encounter extra residuals.
Is Prostate Cancer A Presumptive Condition?
Veterans exposed to Agent Orange have prostate cancer listed as a presumptive condition. It implies that veterans are not obligated to furnish a nexus (a connection between their disease and service) to establish a service connection.
Prostate cancer has emerged among veterans exposed to burn pits in the Southwest theatre of operations post-September 11, 2001. Even though the VA doesn't recognize disabilities as presumptively linked to burn pits, veterans can present a nexus opinion from a medical expert to advocate for service connection regarding their prostate cancer.
