Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at Aurora Behavioral Healthcare in San Diego, California from August 18 to August 20, 2013 is granted. The claim for March 16, 2015, treatment at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary hypertension was denied in November 2008, but new and material evidence was received after the one-year deadline. The claim is reopened.,Service connection for hypertension was granted secondary to diabetes mellitus II (DM II), effective January 10, 2017.,Service connection for ED was granted secondary to DM II, effective March 5, 2012. SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is also effective from this date.,SMC based on housebound criteria was not granted earlier than January 10, 2017 due to the Veteran's disability status at that time.,Service connection for prostate cancer or prostate disability has not been established by evidence in the record.,Left ear hearing loss is rated as level IV.,Tinnitus remains rated at 10 percent since August 20, 2007.,CAD was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to January 10, 2017 due to its severity and other service-connected conditions.,Hypertension is treated with medication but does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,ED remains rated at 30 percent since March 5, 2012.,Psychiatric disorder continues to be rated as having occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and erectile dysfunction, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is also found to be secondary to his now service-connected depression.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, contributed to his death from sepsis due to a decubitus ulcer. The Board found that these disabilities rendered him materially less capable of resisting the effects of other causes of death.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since August 22, 2014. Service connection for benign prostate hypertrophy and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected depressive disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal condition, erectile dysfunction, gastroparesis, and rectal growths (hemorrhoids) due to additional development being required. The issues include service connection for these conditions as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent evaluation of diabetes mellitus type II with bilateral cortical cataracts and nuclear sclerosis and erectile dysfunction was denied. The Board found that there was no ascertainable increase in the disability within one year prior to July 1, 2015, when the Veteran filed his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 6260 already applies.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction (secondary to hypertension) are remanded, while service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee remains pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions have aggravated his current disabilities and to obtain an examination to determine if he has a disability manifested by bilateral vision loss. The cases are also being remanded to assess whether any medication is aggravating his ED.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for erectile dysfunction is dismissed as he withdrew his claim during the July 2017 Board hearing.,The Veteran’s claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, pulmonary sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea), and right lower extremity nerve disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing secondary service connection theories.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a pulmonary sleep disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing the relationship between his obesity and service-connected disabilities, and whether it was caused or aggravated by his psychiatric disability.,The Veteran’s claim of service connection for a right lower extremity nerve disability is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses in the medical records regarding this condition.,The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left knee instability with osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing his functional limitations during the period from August 11, 2011 to September 2012.,The Veteran's claim of increased rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses in the medical records regarding this condition.,The Veteran’s claims of increased ratings for depression are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing his functional limitations during the period from August 11, 2011 to September 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, but has remanded the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction due to diabetes and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hip disorder and erectile dysfunction were denied. His increased rating claims for thoracic spine disability and lumbar spine disability were also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with onychomycosis is rated at a 40 percent disability rating beginning November 19, 2014. The Veteran also receives a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities from that date.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (unspecified depressive disorder) and his erectile dysfunction are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. His lumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylosis is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for braces used for his service-connected left knee, right knee, and back disabilities in calendar year 2015 due to lack of documentation showing use of these braces during that period.

The Veteran's claims for psoriatic arthritis, digestive disorder, and diabetes mellitus have been denied. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure or service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of various extremities and psychiatric conditions. The claims for increased ratings are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, PTSD, and various other conditions have been denied. The claim for joint pain, right knee condition, status post left leg fracture with pin placement, eye condition, sinusitis, acid reflux, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate, and athlete’s foot has also been denied due to lack of evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.