Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes and denied service connection for an antiplatelet condition (swollen legs).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and determined that the Veteran's disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, lumbar spine injury, erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD medications), and traumatic brain injury, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service connected as secondary to his diabetes mellitus, with the VA examiner stating that it was not due to the duration of his diabetes or because of alcohol use.

The Veteran's cataracts, aphakia, and diabetic retinopathy are currently rated at 30 percent. His erectile dysfunction is not shown to warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, which is not manifested by penile deformity, does not warrant a compensable rating since August 8, 2008.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction and finds that new evidence received since the June 2003 denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The issue of whether the erectile dysfunction is secondary to service-connected PTSD or diabetes mellitus will be addressed in a future VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.,Service connection has been granted for a bowel disorder (chronic constipation), but it does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU remains on appeal due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities. The RO is instructed to arrange for a VA mental disorders examination, obtain any additional evidence, and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the VA examination report.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and a skin disorder. The claim for residuals of dental trauma was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants entitlement to secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected prostate cancer, status post prostatectomy, with erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, increased initial ratings, and a higher rating for his service-connected erectile dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetes. The Board found no evidence of entitlement to these benefits prior to May 7, 2009, or that any compensable complications existed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, dermatitis, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood and posttraumatic stress disorder), achalasia, and TMJ. The initial ratings assigned were also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The November 2007 VA examination report concluded that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated noncompensable, as there is no evidence of deformity.,A 40 percent disability rating for prostate cancer from July 6, 2007 has been granted. The Veteran requires absorbent materials that need to be changed more than four times per day.

The Board found that the reduction of the evaluation for service-connected residuals of prostate cancer from 100% to 60% was proper, as it was supported by evidence and in compliance with regulations.