Erectile dysfunction Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, prostate cancer, and hypertension are granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least approximately balanced as to whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Guam. Therefore, herbicide exposure is conceded. As the medical evidence establishes that he has CAD and prostate cancer, service connection related to herbicide agents is presumed. Service connection for hypertension is granted due to reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer, and urinary frequency secondary to prostate cancer have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand or any other basis for service connection.

The Board has granted a maximum 60 percent rating for residuals of prostate cancer, but the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to lack of recent VA medical records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, pes planus, and onychomycosis are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, urticaria, and bilateral foot fungus due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The claims are being returned for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records from 2010 onwards and a medical opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused by his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer. The rating for residuals of prostate cancer is remanded, and the service connection for hypertension is also remanded due to lack of a VA medical opinion on herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA must provide addendum opinions from a different examiner to determine if these conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and/or CAD.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction and prostate disability, and granted service connection for Type 2 diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide agent exposure. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability has been denied. The Board also found that the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and the TDIU claim need further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction. The issue of an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for TBI and PTSD remains unresolved.,The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his TBI and PTSD was denied, and the case has been remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to potential exposure at Guantanamo Bay during a training exercise.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability has been granted. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus, but the claims for hearing loss, headache disability, COPD, eye disability, prostate disability, erectile dysfunction, skin disability, stomach disability, arthritis, bilateral foot disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of his December 2015 rating decision, finding that his January 2017 Notice of Disagreement was untimely and not supported by good cause.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and proteinuria was granted a 40 percent disability rating from March 24, 2008 to January 11, 2013.,From January 12, 2013, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and proteinuria was granted a 60 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (median nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (median nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.,A separate 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (radial nerve) was granted.,A separate 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (radial nerve) was granted.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and chronic kidney disease with hypertension, are severe enough to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. Therefore, the Board has granted a TDIU (Total Disability Rating for Compensation Purposes Based on Individual Unemployability). Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits is also established.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for nasal bones with deviation to the right was denied. The Board found that the current condition did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.,The claim of service connection for hypertensive heart disease with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy was previously denied in May 2013, but new evidence received since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Board did not reopen this claim as it found no material evidence.,The claim of service connection for hypertension was previously denied in February 2013 and reopened due to new evidence showing recent VA treatment, but the new evidence did not show that the condition was related to service or manifested within one year of discharge. The Board denied reopening this claim as well.,The claim of service connection for a neck disability was previously denied in May 2012 and reopened due to new evidence showing recent VA treatment, but the new evidence did not show that the condition was related to service or manifested within one year of discharge. The Board denied reopening this claim as well.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for neck scars, bilateral metatarsalgia with hallux valgus, bilateral pes planus with callus formation, and migraine headaches have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, PFB, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent lumbar spine disability, recurrent right ankle disability, recurrent left ankle disability, right foot hallux valgus with gout and heel spurs, and left knee Osgood Schlatter's disease.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show actual external or internal deformity of the penis.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on continuity of symptoms since service, but the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of in-service onset and no established link to noise exposure.