Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for renal disease and erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected disabilities have been granted. His diabetes rating has been reduced from 60% to 20%, effective September 19, 2016. The Veteran is also entitled to increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition required regulation of activities prior to July 23, 2015 and more severe symptoms were not demonstrated thereafter.

The Veteran is currently rated at 40 percent for his prostate condition and has a combined disability rating of 60 percent. His service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting an effective date of January 19, 2007 for the TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant, through his representative, has withdrawn this appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to May 11, 2017. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of TDIU prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder is secondary to his service-connected hypertension and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding service connection for prostate disability and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in their entirety prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU prior to March 30, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is manifested by loss of erectile power, but not by penile deformity. The Board finds that a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is not warranted.

The VA determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with chronic fatigue syndrome and erectile dysfunction being found to be related to his service in the Persian Gulf War. The other conditions are not considered due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illnesses.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for tinnitus and irritable bowel syndrome (to include as secondary to PTSD), but not for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, skin cancer, or degenerative joint disease of the left knee or right knee. The Veteran's hypertension was also found not to be related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to a verified in-service stressor, and service connection for PTSD is granted. The claims of alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis abuse are also granted as they are considered new and material evidence that supports the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not include a disability rated as permanent and total, thus he does not meet the legal criteria for entitlement to specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's PTSD resulted in a disability rating of 50 percent prior to May 4, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him prior to August 5, 2014.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disorder of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, reflecting significant forward flexion and combined range of motion.

The Veteran's disability rating for prostate cancer residuals was reduced from 100% to 60%, effective March 1, 2010. The reduction was proper as the evidence showed no recurrence of prostate cancer and the Veteran was not undergoing treatment.,SMC based on housebound status was restored effective March 1, 2010, due to the Veteran's service-connected bowel incontinence precluding him from maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities. The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted.