Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus, as the current diagnosis does not support a finding that it is related to military service. For erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, dyshydrosis, and hemorrhoids, the preponderance of the evidence did not support the assignment of compensable ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service diagnoses. The issue of service connection for a urinary tract disability remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer with residual urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension all due to herbicide exposure during service. The evidence did not support a finding of such exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted and assigned an initial evaluation of 30 percent, which was increased to 50 percent effective the date of service connection. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent disabling with separate ratings for peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities as well as erectile dysfunction. The low back disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining some form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was not considered as it is not related to active military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his complete service treatment records and scheduling appropriate VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is 70 percent, and he does not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show loss of erectile power and deformity, which are required for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7522.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not considered to be due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his erectile dysfunction are related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD due to a verified event during active service.

The Veteran's back disability is characterized by limitation of motion and mild radiculopathy, warranting a 40 percent evaluation.,He also has associated radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, which is evaluated as 10 percent for each side.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found that the right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as hypertension, are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus disorder, joint and muscle pain due to an undiagnosed illness, and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to an undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support presumptive service connection under the Gulf War Syndrome provisions, nor was there sufficient direct evidence linking these conditions to service.