Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer with urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, finding no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service and insufficient medical evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are all granted due to herbicide exposure during service. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Thailand and has been diagnosed with these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection claims.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, major depressive disorder and pain disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), vertigo and dizziness, vision problems to include tunnel vision, erectile dysfunction, and hyperpituitarism with low testosterone are all being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of recent medical evidence and the need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinus bradycardia was reopened, and a TDIU rating is granted effective June 7, 2017. The claims for hypertension, anemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, erectile dysfunction, and right hip scar were dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, renal failure, peripheral neuropathy, and amputation scars. The AOJ is directed to obtain updated treatment records and the December 2013 Statement of the Case for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded all issues due to the failure of the AOJ to provide proper notice to the appellant's representative regarding a June 2016 rating decision. The CUE claim should be resolved prior to resolving the new and material evidence claim.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected PTSD, but the issues of hypertension and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for erectile dysfunction, which is secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death by making him more susceptible to developing endocarditis, which was the principal cause of death.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease, as well as associated neurological symptoms including radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, and neurogenic bladder symptoms, have been granted a 40 percent rating since November 30, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee, left knee, right leg, left leg, muscle disorder, eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, skin rash disability, chronic pain disorder, and neck disability. The decision also denied reopening of previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, and his claim for a TDIU were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes required only restricted diet and oral medication during the period on appeal, and did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule. For the TDIU claim, the Board noted that the Veteran had one service-connected disability (diabetes) rated at 20 percent, which was below the threshold of 60 percent required for a TDIU based on schedular criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II with onychomycosis of the bilateral big toenails and erectile dysfunction is remanded. The Board also notes that an earlier effective date prior to August 13, 2012, is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's skin conditions and their relationship to service, specifically herbicide exposure. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for prostate cancer, urinary problems, or erectile dysfunction on a direct-incurrence basis, but his claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions and TDIU has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to lack of penile deformity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, foot disorders, erectile dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, prostate condition, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these areas or a causal link to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected disabilities is granted. The rating for his back disability is restored from a non-compensable evaluation to 20% effective November 1, 2017.