Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be proximately due to his service-connected hypertension, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied both the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding no evidence of chronic hypertension in service or a nexus to herbicide exposure. Service connection was also denied for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and some other conditions are granted service connection, but the Veteran did not timely file a notice of disagreement for his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction due to its interrelation with a bladder cancer claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to inadequate examination in one case and a reduction of rating in another.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Parkinson’s disease, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and buttocks are presumed to be associated with in-service Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip condition, chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, bladder dysfunction, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, bowel dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, rotoscoliosis and intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the bilateral shoulders, cervical degenerative disc disease is denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted to 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations. The issues include bilateral hip strain, acquired psychiatric disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erectile dysfunction (ED), and loss of use of a creative organ.

Your claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation due to loss of use of a creative organ have been fully granted in the November 2017 rating decision. There is no remaining case or controversy regarding these issues.

The Veteran was granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to prostate cancer, and residuals of a stroke secondary to type II diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for the cause of death is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed to the development and aggravation of his obstructive sleep apnea.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran’s prostate disorder, claimed as prostate distress with six to ten pads per day, to his active duty service.

The Veteran's headaches were not characterized by prostrating attacks, and a compensable evaluation is denied.,Prior to January 20, 2015, the Veteran’s hypertension required medication for control; beginning from that date, it has been manifested by diastolic blood pressure of predominantly around 100 mm, and systolic pressure predominantly in the 170s and 180s. A compensable evaluation is granted.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction disability is manifested by loss of erectile power but not by penile deformity; a compensable evaluation is denied.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to lack of current diagnosis despite service in Southwest Asia and widespread musculoskeletal pain.,Service connection for vertigo, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness, is remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding the nature of the Veteran's symptoms and their relation to his service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a sleep disability, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness, is remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of sleep apnea or chronic fatigue syndrome.,Service connection for angioneurotic edema of the right and left leg and edema of the right and left ankle is remanded due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to hypertension.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (GERD) is remanded due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient nexus opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II aggravated his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to in-service herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran’s claimed herbicide exposure while stationed in Korea and obtain all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and its complications are rated at 20 percent, with a TDIU granted from October 18, 2013.,Diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has decided that the claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, PTSD, and erectile dysfunction.