Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) has been granted, and he is also entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The MDD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital from April 7, 2014, through April 11, 2014, are denied as VA facilities were feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been reasonable.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction but has remanded the issue of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine DDD. The claim for service connection was denied due to insufficient evidence of a current disability, while the increased rating claim was denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran’s condition has worsened beyond what is contemplated by the current 40% rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and cataracts, due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted, and the Board finds new and material evidence to reopen these claims. The remaining issues of back disability, neck disability, ED, residuals of groin injury, and headaches are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including a back disorder, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and bilateral lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, and headache disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disability, to include GERD, and erectile dysfunction. The claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is granted.

The Board has withdrawn the issue of a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction and denied entitlement to earlier effective dates for service connection. The skin disorder claim is remanded due to lack of an opinion regarding in-service exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for a cardiac disability, including heart disease. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination and determination of their relationship to service. The compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is also remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for an evaluation in excess of 0 percent for erectile dysfunction was denied. The reduction of the disability rating for prostate cancer, status post cryotherapy, from 100 to 40 percent (subsequently increased to 60 percent) was found to be improper and void ab initio.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, groin injury with scars, or erectile dysfunction are related to service. The Veteran's active duty service is conceded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability has been reopened, but the claim is denied. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and psychiatric disability are not rated higher than 30 percent. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending as it was remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, ear disability, glaucoma, respiratory disorder, hypertension, upper intestinal disorder (GERD), erectile dysfunction, left great toenail paronychia, gout, right foot disability, skin disability, LUE neuropathy with pain, RUE neuropathy with pain, LLE neuropathy with pain, and RLE neuropathy with pain due to outstanding evidence that may be relevant to the claims.

The Veteran's ED is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depression. The Veteran's PTSD with depression is granted a disability rating of 70 percent, the highest available.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lacunar brain infarct condition and granted initial ratings of 30 percent for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and 20 percent for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome prior to March 22, 2011. The claim for cardiovascular disorder (other than arterial hypertension) was remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claims for erectile dysfunction and renal dysfunction were also remanded as the VA examiners did not address whether they are secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome have been rated based on moderate incomplete paralysis, resulting in a 30 percent rating for each hand prior to March 22, 2011. The Board denied the request for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus and impaired circulation of the right leg secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's representative indicated that he was receiving SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, but this award is not explained in the record. A new opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran’s erectile dysfunction and impaired circulation are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 1, 2014. The Board has granted the TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, specifically prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction. The remand requires obtaining private treatment records from a urologist and an addendum opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and erectile dysfunction have been reopened. The Board has determined that the evidence received since the last final denial is new and material, allowing these claims to be considered again. However, both issues of service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the disabilities.