Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2006

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for erectile dysfunction and gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease. The veteran is being remanded to complete an appeal on the issue of entitlement to separate ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination to determine if the veteran's erectile dysfunction preexisted service or was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's TMJ and penis disorder had their onset in service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, knee disabilities, cervical spine issues, blackouts and memory loss, and stomach problems. The Board has ordered additional medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as whether service connection can be established for them.

The veteran's voiding dysfunction and erectile dysfunction are not service-connected, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his VA treatment. The claim for reopening the anxiety neurosis claim was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral vascular disease, all to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DM-II). The remaining issues are REMANDED.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim for residuals of the removal of lumbosacral discs, L4, L5, and S1. The erectile dysfunction claim was remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and denied a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for erectile dysfunction/impotence, and thus denied service connection.,There is insufficient medical evidence to establish a direct link between the veteran's military service and his currently diagnosed sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected diabetes, but granted an effective date of May 8, 2001 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for his service-connected conditions were denied. His diabetes mellitus is currently evaluated as 40 percent disabling, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are noncompensable from April 14, 2003 to January 20, 2006, erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy each receive a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus and service connection for erectile dysfunction and bipolar disorder, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, the highest rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, but has found that there is not enough evidence to support his claims of right ear hearing loss and loss of peripheral vision.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC for loss of use of a creative organ due to his erectile dysfunction, as he still retains some ability to engage in intercourse and there is no evidence of complete sterility or psychosocial impairment.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left legs, and erectile dysfunction are currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that these conditions do not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran is seeking to reopen his claim for service connection of low back disability and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for erectile dysfunction due to VA prescribed medications. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, ED or diabetic retinopathy. The VA medical examinations and private physician's notes do not establish a causal connection between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and any of these conditions. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction, as well as his claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy. The issues have been remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the veteran for a VA examination.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 10 percent prior to July 26, 2005 and increased to 20 percent from that date. Service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction were denied.