Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and issuance of a statement of the case on all issues.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a special Aid and Attendance examination. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his hypertensive cardiovascular disease, may have worsened since his last examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all denied as there is no credible evidence to support presumptive exposure to herbicide agents during his naval service.

The Veteran's combined rating is 80 percent, and the VA specialist determined that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion from a VA TDIU examiner. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered in determining whether they make him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his period of service and have denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his effective dates for the granted conditions are not earlier than April 13, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction were found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period from January 23, 2009, to May 2, 2010. The effective date of his grant of service connection for coronary artery disease was determined based on VA regulations pertaining to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes and PTSD were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions warranted a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric, back, knee, and foot disabilities, is being remanded due to the need for an examination addendum and additional medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and right knee disorder, finding new and material evidence. The claim for bilateral hip disorder is denied as there is no evidence to support a current disability.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus is presumed to have been incurred during his service in Vietnam due to exposure to herbicides. Service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, depression, ED, sleep disorder, fatigue, and lightheadedness are also granted as secondary to the diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD, service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted. The earliest dates assignable for these conditions are based on the dates of receipt of his initial claims.

The Veteran was granted service connection for prostate cancer and entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ due to the conceded exposure to herbicides during his service at the Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction is not shown to include deformity of the penis with loss of erectile power, and therefore he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7522. As such, his claim for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain with arthropathy, necessitate the need for an automobile to accommodate his mobility limitations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural error in representation, and further development is needed before service connection can be adjudicated.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD, hypertension, and ED are service-connected based on credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors. The appeals for these conditions were granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing or Video Conference hearing as requested by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination and retrieval of relevant medical records.