Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no current conditions that met the criteria for service connection, except for migraine headaches and erectile dysfunction (ED) with Peyronie's disease.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with associated alcohol dependence and other service-connected conditions, most nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating beginning April 13, 2012. The Board granted service connection for neurological disabilities of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to his PTSD and associated alcohol dependence. Service connection was also granted for radiculopathy of the right leg and bilateral CTS, both found to be related to his PTSD and alcohol dependence.

The Board has remanded the claims for extraschedular consideration due to Johnson v. McDonald, and for TDIU consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest possible level (100%) due to total occupational and social impairment. The issues of service connection for erectile dysfunction, coronary heart disease, hypertension, a neurological disability, and peripheral vascular disease are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss had its onset during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature, extent, severity and manifestations of his service-connected PTSD and other conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for decreased libido associated with hairy-cell leukemia was granted effective September 8, 2014. The issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction remains unresolved.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, chest pain, numbness, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims were not based on exposure to herbicides or other presumptive conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims of service connection for right shoulder disability, prostate disability, and hypertension. The Veteran's current right shoulder disability is considered incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, as due to herbicide exposure, is granted. The Board finds that the evidence of record supports a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his period of active service in Korea and concedes this exposure. As such, service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ED is at least as likely as not caused by medication prescribed for his service-connected CAD, and thus grants service connection for ED secondary to CAD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depression, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary artery disease, diabetes, small fiber diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities associated with diabetes, hypertension associated with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities associated with diabetes, and erectile dysfunction) were rated 80 percent combined and shared a common etiology. They are shown to have rendered him incapable of maintaining regular substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further procedural action regarding his claims of service connection and initial disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination to determine the nature and severity of his testicular pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, as well as his claims for various other disabilities. The Board found that there was no legal merit to these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and granted it. The issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected disabilities is also addressed.

The Board has determined that an additional medical opinion is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, as it was previously unclear whether his condition may have been aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, neck disability, low back disability, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, iritis, allergies, nephrolithiasis, erectile dysfunction, and lip rash are all granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in service.