Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that his impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran also does not qualify for SMC as he has no other service-connected disability rated at least 60%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and orthopedic conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment since February 10, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU rating from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD, cervical spine/neck condition, and erectile dysfunction are at least as likely as not related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred during service due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran has peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities and ED which are related to his now service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. It was also found not caused or made worse by a service-connected disability, specifically diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his active service. The remaining issues have been referred for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will handle any further development as required.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the denial of a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records and employment information, and for a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination, insufficient evidence on the relationship between his disabilities and service or service-connected conditions, and need for updated medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining vocational rehabilitation records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and denied his claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction. The decision is mixed as it grants part of the appeal and denies another.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, special monthly compensation based on the need for aid & attendance/housebound status, and temporary total rating based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence associated with a heart attack in March 2010 were denied. The Board also found that extraschedular ratings for his right knee disabilities and residuals of a fracture of the right fifth finger were not warranted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, reopening of previously denied claims for left knee disability and low back disability (degenerative changes with low back pain) were remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining a statement from his physician regarding penis deformity and a statement from his primary care physician regarding unemployability during the period from August 1, 2009 to July 22, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise whether the Veteran suffers from PTSD related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental clinical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including sleep disturbances, nightmares, daily intrusive thoughts, daily panic attacks, and flashbacks, caused or aggravated his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the current erectile dysfunction and whether it is caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions.