Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer voiding disability, combined with other disabilities rated at least 60 percent, meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate beyond January 31, 2016.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease residuals are rated at the maximum available rating of 80 percent, effective from October 17, 2019.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities has been established, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen claims of service connection for tinnitus and hepatitis C is granted. On de novo review, service connection for hepatitis C is also granted.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, including determining its etiology and whether it is related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have made it impossible for him to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective November 15, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy affecting the femoral and sciatic nerves, as well as erectile dysfunction, all claimed to be due to a non-service-connected lumbar spine disorder. The decision found no evidence of chronic symptoms during service or continuous post-service symptoms that would warrant presumptive service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate July 2016 VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's Erectile Dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, with the Board finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher than 50 percent or 70 percent disability rating prior to and after July 9, 2019, respectively.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted as he met the schedular requirements and demonstrated that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and clarification, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion on the relationship between PTSD and ED, and issuing a statement of the case regarding increased rating for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has granted the severance of service connection for prostate cancer, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (psychiatric condition), and erectile dysfunction. The SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ was also discontinued.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for erectile dysfunction was denied because the evidence did not show that his condition resulted from VA care, treatment, or examination. The claim for service connection for a back disability was granted as it is presumed to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.,The right flat foot disability and hypertension claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim, despite the Veteran having previously served in the military from 1966 to 1968.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bilateral foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), posterior tibial tendonitis, and degenerative joint disease are service-connected. However, due to new evidence of worsening symptoms and other issues, these claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, including those related to exposure to herbicide agents, as the evidence did not establish actual or presumed exposure and the conditions were not shown to be directly related to active duty service.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and coronary artery disease have all been granted service connection. The Veteran also received an increased rating for his depressive disorder.