Veterans and PCa recurrance

Yes you should be able for a new rating, if it has returned. Anything that would indicate a stage 4 should be permanent.
Michael

0311 -

I did some searching, and "Increased Claim " (the VA's term for it) seems to be what you will want to file, in view of your description of your situation.

It is described on this VA website page:

"Types of VA disability claims and when to file":

https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/when-to-file/

as " ... Increased claim: file a claim for more compensation for a disability that we've already determined to be service connected and that's gotten worse."

And this looks like a good summary of how to proceed from where you are right now:

https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/how-get-increased-disability-compensation.html#:~:text=when%20you%20request%20an%20increase%20in%20your%20va,your%20ducks%20in%20a%20row%20before%20you%20file.

(See section "Filing for an Increase to an Existing Disability")

I was unable to determine as to how specifically you should go about filing for an increased claim since you already have an established claim, so you might want to look at the VA's page on getting claim filing assistance for the best way to pursue that:

https://www.va.gov/disability/get-help-filing-claim/

NOTE: something else I read. Any time you file in this way, your file becomes subject to "complete review," which means the VA could, theoretically, reduce your existing benefits for some reason. That shouldn't happen if your situation has indeed gotten worse, but something to keep in mind.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

0311,
You, having had radiation as your primary treatment would be considered in Biochemical Recurrence (BCR) if your PSA is 2.0 or more above your nadir. Your PSA trend is definitely upward, but given your different PSA on your last two tests you may need to wait for a further test to confirm if you are yet 2.0 above your nadir.

I'm an Agent Orange vet. After my salvage radiation in 2010 I was rated 100 percent for 6 months after treatment ended and then re-rated at 10 percent for residuals of treatment only (minor leakage). My PSA became detectable again in 2014. In 2016 after PSA reached 0.2 (the generally recognized threshold for BCR in patients who were initially treated with surgery) my private -non VA - urologist gave me a written statement that I again had active cancer. I opened a claim on the VA eBenefits portal and attached that claim and and a short statement from me saying I was requesting a new rating from the VA for active cancer. A month or so later I was called for a C&P (compensation and pensions) exam by a VA contract doctor. It was a very brief review - he read my doctor's statement, asked me some questions about my medical history and submitted his report. A few weeks later I was notified my disability rating was increased to 100 percent - though subject to review going forward. In 2018 after I'd moved my care to a medical oncologist and I was beginning ADT treatment, the MO gave me a letter stating I had active prostate cancer that was treatable but no longer curable. I submitted that letter via eBenefits. A month or two later I was called for another C&P, this time by a VA nurse practitioner. She submitted her report and a few days later I read on the eBenefits that I was continued at 100 percent and now also rated permanent, meaning no further C&P exams.

The key is having a statement from your doctor - whether a VA doc or an outside doc - stating you have active PCa. It is then up to the VA rater to confirm your doctor's opinion, usually by sending you to a VA doc for evaluation.

You should ask your VSO to submit on your behalf. I handled my own claim because of a bad experience with my town's then veteran's agent. But if you have a reliable VSO - for starters one who returns your phone calls... - that person should be your agent and adviser.
Jim

0311, I was a navy coastal surveillance radioman. You marines had a much tougher gig. I once had to drop off one of our guys for a marine helicopter lift to fix a broken off-shore radar. The marines at the gate called their lieutenant over who told me he'd let us in but couldn't let me leave until morning. I was more than happy to spend the the night cat-napping in my jeep. I love and respect you guys.