Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2017

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective the date of his claim. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including gout, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, rhinitis, kidney disability (chronic renal failure and bilateral renal cysts), hypertension, cystitis, erectile dysfunction, and migraines. The appeals are now resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which necessitates a grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD has been granted and is no longer on appeal. The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and determining whether VA examinations are necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU as his combined disability rating is 70 percent.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death, tinnitus, heart attack (CAD), erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral leg condition. The Veteran's cardiovascular issues were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction associated with the condition have been denied as there is no evidence supporting higher disability ratings based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, eye conditions, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and erectile dysfunction. The case is therefore being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected prostatitis and interstitial cystitis. The examiner should also provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a GU disability, finding that there is no additional disability resulting from VA treatment and that any current symptoms are not related to the 2004 cystectomy.

The Veteran's appeal for additional vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits to support gunsmith training has been denied as the evidence does not show that further independent training is necessary for him to obtain or maintain entry level employment in his chosen area.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Erectile Dysfunction was not present during his active service and is not causally related to any service-connected disability, including diabetes or PTSD. Therefore, the claim for service connection for ED is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction and hypertension have been denied as there is no credible evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other confirmed Agent Orange exposure. The conditions were not diagnosed until many years after service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a chronic low back and cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder arthritis, residuals of prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, bilateral ankle arthritis, right knee arthritis, and right hip arthritis, have not been substantiated by the evidence of record. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions had onset during active service or are otherwise related to such service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his DVTs and CVA, necessitate the need for aid and attendance assistance. The Board grants SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused, at least in part, by his service-connected hypertension. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted.