Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests for further development. The Veteran's right testicle disability is at the center of all these issues, which are now being reviewed again.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a service-connected left leg disability with scarring is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of an in-service traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to one or more service-connected disabilities and/or the medications prescribed for treatment of such, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left arm disability and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's left arm disability is related to an injury during service, but the examiner did not consider other potential causes such as slip-and-fall injuries. For erectile dysfunction, the examiner found it less likely than not caused by service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection. The cases of rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, cervical spine disorder, penis deformity and loss of erectile power, and benign prostatic hypertrophy are all remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the remand is necessary due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, as well as his erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction, finding that the Veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on deformity of the penis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction have been withdrawn. The Board dismissed these claims as the Veteran explicitly requested their withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and hypertension, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure, have been denied. The evidence submitted does not support the presumption of herbicide exposure or establish a direct link between the conditions and military service.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The Board finds that no such earlier effective date is warranted as the earliest possible effective date is January 3, 2022.,The Veteran also seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disorder. The Board finds that no such earlier effective date is warranted as the effective date assigned by VA was February 11, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for headaches.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, hepatitis C, residuals of venereal disease (to include herpes), right wrist condition, bilateral hip conditions, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disability, bilateral kidney disability, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not have onset during or within one year after separation from service and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure that could cause the current condition.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not service-connected as there is no evidence showing its onset during service or being related to an in-service event, injury, or disease. The diagnosis was made post-service.,There is no diagnosed bilateral eye condition due to service or service-connected disease or injury.,The Veteran's kidney condition is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service and there is no evidence showing its relation to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,There is no diagnosed skeletal arthritis or gout due to service or service-connected disease or injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and left ear hearing loss, prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. As his combined rating is at least 70 percent due to these conditions, he has been granted total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cardiomyopathy and right lower extremity conditions, result in the loss or use of one lower extremity, requiring assistance with locomotion. The Board grants entitlement to specially adapted housing but dismisses the claim for a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and/or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss have been denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction has been remanded. His claims for increased ratings for peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities have also been remanded.,The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding his right ear hearing loss and thus, the case was remanded for an addendum opinion. The diabetes mellitus claim has been remanded due to a lack of recent examination. Finally, both peripheral vascular disease claims have also been remanded as new examinations are needed.,The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding his right ear hearing loss and thus, the case was remanded for an addendum opinion. The diabetes mellitus claim has been remanded due to a lack of recent examination. Finally, both peripheral vascular disease claims have also been remanded as new examinations are needed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of confirmation of his claimed Vietnam service and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled examinations, and a VA medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of his erectile dysfunction.