Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from July 15, 2010 to July 14, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated medical records. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be reconsidered after the completion of these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The examiner will provide opinions on whether erectile dysfunction was caused or aggravated by diabetes mellitus, and if it had its onset during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction were not service connected as they are not related to his military service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim for secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied because the primary condition (prostate cancer) is not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, asthma, hemorrhoids, Morton's neuroma, sinusitis, hypertension, right and left shoulder disabilities, a right knee disability, otitis media, rhinitis, costochondritis, GERD, headaches, and left testicle epididymitis. The Veteran does not have hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. For his left knee disability, he was previously granted a 10 percent rating prior to July 6, 2012 and a 40 percent rating effective from that date. The Veteran's appeal regarding these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected mood disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the condition is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation was granted, with the effective date set at August 12, 2009. However, the service connection for erectile dysfunction and the award of special monthly compensation were determined to be part of his original kidney disability claim filed on August 12, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is denied as there is no evidence of any deformity of the penis or loss of any part of the penis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a comprehensive VA internal medicine examination to determine the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction, finding that there is no evidence of penis deformity with loss of erectile power.

The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and BPH are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss as it is at least as likely as not that the condition was incurred during active duty.

The most probative evidence of record does not reflect that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and a TDIU rating of 60% has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to accrued benefits and potential substitution of the appellant as the claimant. The Veteran's death prevented a final decision on his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and prostate cancer. The issues are now mixed as some aspects of the claim may be granted while others may not.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the maximum schedular rating for tinnitus has been assigned, and his PTSD did not meet criteria for a higher rating.