Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2010

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary relationship between any of the claimed conditions and the Veteran's active service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to locate and consider additional VA medical records, including those from Oklahoma City and Muskogee, Oklahoma, that may contain pertinent information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric and erectile dysfunction disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral onychomycosis do not warrant higher ratings. The decision also grants an effective date prior to February 5, 2003 for service connection of diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling new examinations, and readjudicating the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of erectile dysfunction and service connection for various conditions have been denied. The RO also reopened a claim for kidney infections but did not grant the benefit sought.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of prostate cancer residuals is denied as there was no prior claim filed before August 1, 2005.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with associated erectile dysfunction and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is rated at 40 percent since October 30, 2008. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction did not clearly precede any objective evidence of PTSD symptoms, and there is no clear evidence showing it was caused or significantly aggravated by service-connected PTSD. The Veteran does not have a removal of half or more of the penis, a removal of the glands of the penis, a deformity of the penis with loss of erectile power, or total loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board granted a noncompensable rating for the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, but found that he is entitled to special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the April 2003 rating decision regarding service connection for loss of kidney function remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the aid and attendance of another, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance. The claim for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is moot due to the higher rate set for aid and attendance.

The VA determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction warrants a 40 percent evaluation, but not higher. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7913.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's loss of motor and sensory function of the left upper extremity, which is secondary to a service-connected cervical spine disorder, should be granted as service connected.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and erectile dysfunction, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, finding that there was no evidence of a service-connected deformity of the penis.