Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2016

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The earlier effective date claim for diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining post-service medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's upper-respiratory disorder, hypertension, bilateral ankle disorder, and erectile dysfunction were not incurred in service or are not proximately due to any service-connected disability.,No effective date was assigned as the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and verifying herbicide exposure. The Veteran is seeking service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction, all potentially related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, penile disability (including erectile dysfunction and Peyronie's disease), ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities were denied as there was no evidence to support a nexus between the disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, prostate enlargement, and bladder/urinary disorder are found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a left shoulder disability during service and determined that the current left shoulder disability is not related to service. The hypertension, elbow, wrist, back, radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, and psychiatric disabilities were also denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected ulcerative colitis with chronic cholelithiasis and erectile dysfunction is rated at 40 percent from January 1, 2007 to January 14, 2011. The initial ratings for right and left Achilles tendinitis and Haglund's deformity are both rated at 20 percent from January 1, 2007 to August 8, 2014.

The Veteran's lower back disability with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 40 percent, effective April 7, 2016. The erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for separate compensable evaluations for residuals of diabetes mellitus (DM) as there was no factually ascertainable increase in severity within one year prior to his March 4, 2012 informal claim. The effective date for the grant of service connection and separate ratings is therefore not earlier than March 4, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as considering his service treatment records from Womack Army Medical Center.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of his service-connected spine and right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of regulation of activities or other specific manifestations. His erectile dysfunction is also rated at 20 percent and fully contemplates his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination for his service-connected coronary artery disease and addendum opinions regarding his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, erectile dysfunction, and vertigo are all secondary to his service-connected disabilities (asthma and tachycardia). As such, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including PTSD, alcohol abuse, GERD, diverticulosis/diverticulitis, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's prostate disability, diagnosed as hyperplasia of the prostate, is not service connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between his active service and this condition.