Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2016

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining new opinions from qualified physicians regarding his alopecia areata and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial increased disability evaluation for service-connected erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD and SMC for loss of use of a creative organ are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a separate disability manifested by memory loss, or skin conditions related to service. Peripheral vascular disease was not diagnosed in the record. Service connection for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, bilateral cataracts, and retinopathy was granted but with limitations on activities due to complications.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and reviewing the obtained VA examination report.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression), erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and several types of neuropathy. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction are all found to have their onset in service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's right and left knee disorders as secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a skin disorder affecting the lower extremities, to include as due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran is not shown to have residuals of gonorrhea or erectile dysfunction during active duty or post-service. Service connection will be granted for erectile dysfunction based on presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU as of August 11, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is also remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU prior to August 11, 2015 and issuance of a SOC regarding the issue of entitlement to a TTE based on a service-connected disability requiring a period of convalescence following February 2016 surgery.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective date for service connection were denied. The Board found no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date, and the initial ratings assigned for diabetes mellitus with complications were not in accordance with the criteria.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. The decision is based on direct service connection as there was no evidence of a presumptive exposure or secondary service connection due to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the September 2010 VA examiner to address whether the Veteran's PTSD aggravated his erectile dysfunction and if any period following the spinal injury is due to or increased by service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a radical prostatectomy, including erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, was denied as the additional disabilities were not caused by VA negligence or lack of proper skill.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to secure all relevant medical records and to readjudicate his claims of a rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus, as well as the TDIU claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for erectile dysfunction that he believes is caused or aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the November 2013 examination.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, erectile dysfunction/loss of use of a creative organ, left eye blindness, and service connection claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, residuals of prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, acute sinusitis, and residuals of a left ear cystectomy. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these matters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn by his attorney, effectively dismissing all claims.