Erectile dysfunction decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities not preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his combined rating of service-connected disabilities has been at least 100 percent throughout the appeal period, and he was not found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a bad conduct discharge, finding that his entire period of active service is a bar to VA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is not a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI) and thus not eligible for presumptive service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1117.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were generally granted, with some issues remanded. The Veteran was awarded a TDIU based on his cervical spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU prior to December 15, 2016, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues related to erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, sleep disturbances, a disability characterized by elevated bilirubin, and higher ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee scar, and lumbar spine arthritis. The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of cooperation from the Veteran and insufficient examination findings. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations for his sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, right arm disorder, low back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 50 percent for headaches has been granted. Other claims have been reopened and are pending further review.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, and microalbuminuria are all found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As such, the Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions as secondary to his diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type I and its related peripheral neuropathies are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied because he already receives the maximum benefits for his service-connected conditions, including S-1 SMC.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for restoration of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria from October 1, 2017, as he did not meet the schedular and factual criteria for SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's service records will be reviewed again, as well as medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities.

The Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU from May 31, 2018. The appeal is remanded for further consideration of the claim for service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and VA treatment records. The psychiatric disability claim is related to service, while the erectile dysfunction claim requires further review of informed consent documents.

The Board has found the VA examinations inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction are caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitated the aid and attendance of another, leading to a grant of SMC based on aid and attendance.