Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2018

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been rated at 20 percent since January 20, 2015. The Board found that the current level of disability requires an increased rating to 40 percent due to insulin and restricted diet requirements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, including for gout, left and right leg conditions, tinnitus, respiratory condition, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, bladder disorder, migraines, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, restless leg syndrome of the legs, and a respiratory disability. The claims are remanded to allow for additional examinations and development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The claim for service connection for a back disability is reopened, but the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and erectile dysfunction are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of peripheral neuropathy or psychiatric disorders, and the evidence did not support a finding that prostate cancer residuals resulted in voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy in the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction was restored.,Service connection for diabetic retinopathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on his low back disability, testicular pain and erectile dysfunction, and lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's tinnitus and erectile dysfunction are granted as service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss, right testicle removal, scar associated with right radical orchiectomy, and perforated tympanic membrane do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the matters for additional development, including an examination to identify specific nerve involvement with chronic pelvic pain and assess any functional impairment associated with stress incontinence and inability to sit for more than 30 minutes. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The Board finds that he meets the criterion for aid and attendance benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, bilateral eye nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, status post coronary artery bypass with history of myocardial infarction, and skin cancer are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,The Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during his service on the USS Pictor. Therefore, he cannot establish service connection for any condition based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetic nephropathy and erectile dysfunction were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. The remaining claims of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and organic impotence are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations.,The Veteran's hypertension and sinusitis cases require additional examination as recent VA records are over two years old.,An examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s inguinal hernia is related to his military service, specifically exposure to burn pits.,A new evaluation of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is required due to potential aggravation by his service-connected conditions and medication use.,The Veteran needs a VA examination to assess whether he has an acquired psychiatric disorder separate from his PTSD with secondary depressive disorder.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated as noncompensable (0 percent) throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's voiding dysfunction residual of prostate cancer is currently rated at 40 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted under current criteria.,The Veteran’s service-connected scar, status post radical prostatectomy, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on its size or instability.,PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, with no further increase in rating being granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and its relationship to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure and a medical opinion on whether PTSD caused or aggravated the gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction associated with hypogonadism was denied, and the Board found that he does not have a penile deformity. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for actinic keratosis is remanded due to incomplete records.