How does the VA rate cancer?

Question

Joe my Uncle is a Viet Nam Veteran. He has a brain Aneurysm, diabetes and blood pressure. He also had prostrate cancer and was operated on for it. He was rated at 100% now the VA has examined him and said he is cancer free. they now want to reduce his rating by half. Is this legal and does he have any recourse.

Jim's Reply

VA rates service connected cancers at 100% on a temporary basis. Once treatment is completed and the cancer is gone, VA then rates the veteran by the residual effects of the treatment. The residual effects of prostate cancer treatments are usually leakage and erectile dysfunction. The post treatment rating is usually 20%, 40% or 60% depending on the severity of post treatment residual conditions.