Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected hypertension medication caused or aggravated his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to outstanding treatment records, need for VA examinations, and inextricably intertwined TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including OSA, HTN, right leg arterial insufficiency, ED, renal insufficiency, diabetic retinopathy, and bilateral normal tension glaucoma, mild dry eyes, cataract of the right eye, and pseudophakia of the left eye, as secondary to service-connected diabetes. The issues concerning lumbar strain with sacroiliac pain and labyrinthitis with vestibular dysfunction are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of November 1, 2007. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including CAD, and diabetes mellitus are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. High cholesterol is not a compensable condition. Service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed conditions, including bladder cancer, abdominal aortic aneurysm, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea. The claims are being reviewed in light of potential herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to insufficient opinions in the October 2019 VA examination report, and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus with hypertension and erectile dysfunction, as well as diabetic retinopathy, were denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand four issues: asthma, migraines, back condition, and genitourinary condition. The AOJ is required to obtain pertinent service records, STRs, and VA and private medical records for the Veteran. Additionally, a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his service-connected asthma and migraines, as well as to ascertain the nature and etiology of his claimed back condition and genitourinary condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination and treatment records, as well as insufficient etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's erectile dysfunction. The Veteran is service connected for hypertension and other conditions that may be related to his erectile dysfunction.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for SMC (l) and automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment benefits, as he does not have anatomical loss or use of both feet, one hand and one foot. The decision was based on the current evidence showing no functional impairment requiring aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, both secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The Board found that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions are related to or aggravated by his diabetes.

The Board has remanded the cases due to unclear relationships between the Veteran's service-connected metabolic myopathy and his CVA, erectile dysfunction. The cases will be reconsidered after obtaining an opinion on whether the service-connected condition contributed to or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, penile disability (manifested by erectile dysfunction), gastrointestinal disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD.,There is no current evidence of a diagnosed left knee disability or penile disability (manifested by erectile dysfunction) within the appellate period.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service exposure and continuous presence since active duty.,Service connection for chloracne and renal dysfunction is denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction (due to herbicide agent exposure) is denied based on the VA examiner's opinion that age is more likely contributing factor.,Service connection for hepatitis C (due to herbicide agent exposure) is denied based on the VA examiner's opinion that it is not a presumed condition of exposure.

The Board has remanded the appeals for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, PTSD, and an initial rating greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus due to conflicting evidence regarding current diagnoses and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and initial ratings for various conditions, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, allergic rhinitis, postoperative kidney stone, left heel spurs, hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and kidney cyst. The Veteran's claims are pending further examination or evidence.

The Board has found that additional and relevant medical evidence was received into the record since the December 2018 Statements of the Case. As a result, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's low back disability, but remanded several other issues including those related to bilateral hearing loss, right eye condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and bipolar disorder), left knee condition, right knee condition, left hip condition, bilateral foot condition, and left elbow condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in March 2020.