Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral vascular disease of both lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, Type II diabetes mellitus with cataracts, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 18, 2008, for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer status post radical prostatectomy with scar, urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

The Board is remanding the case for additional examinations and opinions to determine if the Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, with consideration of whether the diabetes mellitus chronically aggravates these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and erectile dysfunction were denied as there was no credible evidence of a service stressor, which is an essential element for a finding of service connection. The Board found that the objective evidence did not substantiate his allegation of the claimed stressor.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, preventing him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. His combined disability rating is at least 70 percent since November 15, 2002.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right groin strain was withdrawn.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a headache disorder remains open on appeal, as the July 1988 rating decision denying such is not final.,Diabetes mellitus was incurred in active service and is service-connected.,Asthma was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,TMJ dysfunction was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,The right shoulder disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may the incurrence of arthritis during such service be presumed.,Erectile dysfunction is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability (diabetes mellitus).,PTSD and major depressive disorder were incurred in active service and are service-connected.,Dry throat was not caused by active service, as there is no underlying diagnosed disorder residual to tonsillectomy.,A bilateral elbow disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,A rib joint disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,The torn right latissimus dorsi muscle was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,Arthritis of the hands was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and the incurrence or aggravation of arthritis during such service may not be presumed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA.

The Veteran was granted service connection for diabetic retinopathy effective from July 25, 2007. He is currently receiving a 20 percent evaluation for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing that any of the claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation of his diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and erectile dysfunction were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence to support a connection between these conditions and service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current erectile dysfunction may be in significant part reasonably associated with his service-connected PTSD and/or medications for either his service-connected PTSD or his GERD, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, finding that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence was against these claims. The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction were granted initial ratings.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is at least 80%, but the evidence does not show that these conditions alone are of such severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a sleep disorder, erectile dysfunction, and gastrointestinal condition were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed sleep disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and whether it caused or aggravated his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, as their combined rating is 30 percent. The claim will be referred to the VA Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration on an extraschedular basis.