Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2007

The Board has granted service connection for quadriplegia resulting from a stroke as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II and for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to the same condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and erectile dysfunction are not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further development to obtain updated VA medical records and for a specialized examination in endocrinology.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions and the need for further development of stressor allegations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for prostatitis and erectile dysfunction, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable rating codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension with erectile dysfunction does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The RO continued the 20 percent disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current erectile dysfunction to his military service, and concluded that any opinion linking it to his service-connected disabilities would be speculative.

The veteran's erectile dysfunction is not rated separately as there is no evidence of penile deformity.,An initial rating of 20 percent for hypertension from June 27, 2003 to October 31, 2003 has been granted. The rating was later reduced to 10 percent after that period.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 90%, but the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, do not prevent him from securing and following all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his work and educational background. Therefore, the claim for a TDIU rating is denied.

The veteran's claim for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was denied. The effective date remains September 16, 2005.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection and rating of disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, right lower extremity, peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and an increased rating for his right meniscus tear with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee. The new and material claim for hypertension was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and erectile dysfunction, as well as his claim for TDIU. The decision found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's erectile dysfunction is causally related to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2. The remaining issues on appeal are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, with hypertension and erectile dysfunction have been denied. The VA has not assigned a separate rating for hypertension or erectile dysfunction.

The Board found that the veteran's erectile dysfunction and T4 incomplete paraplegia with neurogenic bowel and bladder did not result from VA treatment, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the veteran's erectile dysfunction is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran has erectile dysfunction due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, but the penile deformity is due to a nonservice-connected disability (Peyronie's disease). The Board finds that the schedular criteria for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction have not been met.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and a higher rating for prostatitis were denied as there was no evidence of an in-service stressor for PTSD, and the service connection theory was based on direct evidence rather than presumptive or secondary factors.