Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, and thus the Veteran does not meet the essential element for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IHD, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, prostate cancer residuals, traumatic arthritis of both knees, tinnitus, epididymitis, otitis externa of the left ear, deformity of the right great toenail, and erectile dysfunction, rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's chronic epididymitis with erectile dysfunction requires long-term drug therapy and has not required any hospitalizations, drainage, or continuous intensive management. The Board finds a 10 percent rating is warranted for the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including consideration of new evidence from VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied. The prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction has already received the maximum schedular rating, and diabetes is rated at 20 percent due to its current manifestations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, and right ear hearing loss are all granted due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service. The Veteran is also granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his prostate cancer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), erectile dysfunction (ED), and hypertension are all attributable to service. The conditions were presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case to allow the Veteran to attend a videoconference hearing and for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not related to service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury. The claims for flat feet, inguinal hernia, and umbilical hernia have been denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction have been granted service connection effective August 5, 2009.,An initial 10 percent rating for hypertension is assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, scars, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, right hand arthritis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU due to his combined disability rating of 80 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records related to the Veteran's erectile dysfunction (ED) and its relationship to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was entitled to a TDIU as of November 27, 2007, based on his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and hypertension are found to be secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated as noncompensable due to lack of evidence of penile deformity, and he has already been awarded special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ. Therefore, the claim for a compensable disability rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and occupational experience.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and erectile dysfunction (ED) are not related to his service-connected disabilities.,Specifically, there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes is rated at 20 percent, with complications including diabetic gastroparesis and bilateral onychomycosis. The Board denied an increased rating for diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and seeking verification of herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran is also requested to provide a VA medical opinion regarding his claimed disabilities.