Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, as the Veteran and his representative withdrew this claim. The remaining issues of service connection for gout, skin disorders, left knee disorder, erectile dysfunction, and high cholesterol have been denied due to lack of evidence of an underlying disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with a 10% evaluation assigned for his irritable bowel syndrome with duodenal ulcer and hiatal hernia. The headaches, COPD, GERD, and erectile dysfunction are all considered to be related to the service-connected condition of irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease and erectile dysfunction are due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee injury, low back disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and sinusitis. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are not related to military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent disabling for diabetes mellitus type II with onychomycosis, erectile dysfunction, and nephropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from February 19, 2008 to July 17, 2008.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis with pharyngitis, Parkinson's disease, bilateral cataracts associated with diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions alone are sufficient for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, kidney disorder, bladder disorder, asthma, or residuals of a cold injury to the ears.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy is not manifested by episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated. Therefore, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to February 4, 2011, rendered him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a compensable rating for his scars of the bilateral hands.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorder, spine disability, and sleep apnea as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD rated at 50 percent. The case is remanded for issuance of an SOC on the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; left acoustic neuroma/vestibular schwannoma; coronary artery disease; erectile dysfunction; hypertension; diabetic retinopathy; any other eye disability (other than diabetic retinopathy); dry skin (xerosis); bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; neuropathy; and a disability manifested by numbness of the hands are not ready for decision due to lack of probative evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes with erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple conditions, including Type II diabetes mellitus and related disabilities. The Board finds that the Veteran's loss of use of both lower extremities due to his service-connected disabilities warrants specially adapted housing benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other mental health conditions. The claim for erectile dysfunction was denied as there is no evidence to support a link between the condition and active duty.