Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to address the Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and whether this claim should be granted based on a presumption of exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and ensuring all relevant evidence is considered.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis was denied as there is no evidence of current allergic rhinitis during the pendency of this claim. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was also denied due to insufficient evidence linking it to his service-connected conditions.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and facial palsy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction due to lack of penis deformity. For hypertension, there was no evidence showing systolic pressure readings of 200 or more or diastolic pressure readings of 110 or more at any time during the appeal period. For facial palsy, the Board found that the Veteran's nerve damage warranted a 10 percent evaluation based on moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, characterized by a penile deformity and loss of erectile power, has been rated at 20 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the clinical evidence provided.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction were denied as they are not related to service or due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with associated diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic nephropathy are currently rated at 20 percent. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for separate compensable evaluations for any of these conditions or for peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and hypertension are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, warranting the grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as secondary to the lumbosacral spine disability), and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is denied as the service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for such a rating due to their impact on his employment, particularly given his prostate cancer and related urinary incontinence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back disability, psychiatric disorder, and erectile dysfunction, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for erectile dysfunction has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial, compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and an effective date prior to April 27, 2007 for a grant of service connection for prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus were denied. The Board found that the disability was not shown to be productive of industrial impairment warranting a compensable evaluation under the schedular criteria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with peripheral vascular disease and erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as the evidence does not show that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a higher evaluation.