Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2016

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is found to be incurred in active service due to in-service herbicide exposure. The claim for erectile dysfunction remains unresolved as it does not meet the presumptive criteria based on in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction are service-connected, with the latter being secondary to his prostate cancer. The Veteran is also entitled to special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, GERD, and bilateral gout have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a noncompensable rating for erectile dysfunction due to lack of penile deformity. A separate award of SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ has also been granted. The Veteran's hypertension and GERD are rated as 0 percent, while his bilateral gout remains at the initial 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, effective December 2, 2013. The RO granted an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction on March 14, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of right hand injury, currently diagnosed as old laceration of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon of the right little finger. The Veteran's claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the October 2014 VA examination is inadequate for adjudicating the claim and requires a remand to address the issues of causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's ED is reasonably shown to be causally linked to the medical treatment of his service-connected PTSD, and therefore service connection for ED as secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (combined rating of 90%) render him incapable of maintaining regular substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI with vertigo, nausea and headaches, COPD, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), and left hand disability are all denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has ordered further development for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining records from his state Workers' Compensation agency and Social Security Administration (SSA), as well as requesting a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected PTSD and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or a nexus to his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a combined effects medical opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, ED secondary to DM, hypertension secondary to DM, and lumbar and cervical spine disabilities. The Board also granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 20, 2011, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of persuasive medical or lay evidence showing he was unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities within one year prior to that date.

The Veteran does not have renal cell cancer, osteopenia, or an eye disability (ptosis). The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Peyronie's disease and erectile dysfunction as his Peyronie's disease is already rated at its maximum under Diagnostic Code 7522.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of depression, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression secondary to prostate cancer is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and finds that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with non-proliferative retinopathy and erectile dysfunction warrants a rating in excess of 20 percent, but further development is needed to determine if regulation of activities due to diabetes mellitus requires a higher rating.