Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his disabilities are not related to his military service, including exposure to contaminants.

The Veteran's right thigh myositis ossificans and right knee osteoarthritis were granted initial evaluations in excess of the assigned ratings. Service connection was established for hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy with urinary obstruction, and hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to November 8, 2013. The Veteran was already receiving a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction due to service connection, and the diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was rated together.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and addressing the timeliness of the NODs and new and material evidence issues.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction are currently rated at the highest available evaluations, with no additional compensation granted. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim will be reconsidered based on this development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and erectile dysfunction, including as due to ionizing radiation exposure. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD based on an in-service stressor or any current disability related to active service, including ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction did not have onset in service and is not related to a disease or injury in his active military service, and is not caused or aggravated by treatment for service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction. The RO must obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of his erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to any prescribed medication, and a VA medical examination to determine whether any current sleep apnea is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 6, 2004 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was also found to be secondary to his diabetes.,Both conditions are related to the Veteran's diabetes and not directly linked to his military service.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for migraine headaches. The Veteran's consistent reports of headache onset and continued struggle with symptoms since discharge from active service are credible, and the absence of medical evidence to the contrary supports this finding.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction does not warrant a compensable evaluation as there is no evidence of penile deformity or other genitourinary diagnosis during the period of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is a result of his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The reduction in the rating for service-connected Type II DM with erectile dysfunction from 40% to 20% effective April 29, 2005 was improper. The Veteran's condition continues to require insulin and restricted diet or oral hypoglycemic agent.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and erectile dysfunction have been rated as noncompensable since the grant of service connection. The Board finds that the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.