The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted. The claims for hiatal hernia with GERD and other conditions are being remanded as new evidence was submitted post-October 2006 SOC.
The deciding factor: Service connection established based on secondary aggravation of a non-service connected condition (erectile dysfunction) due to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Claimed conditions
- Erectile Dysfunction, Hiatal Hernia with GERD, Tinea Pedis, Right Hand Injury (variously diagnosed as a deformity of the 2nd metacarpal probably due to an old injury), Headaches, Discogenic Disc Disease with Mild Lumbar Spondylosis (Back Disorder), Bilateral Hearing Loss, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (variously claimed as a nervous condition and a depressive disorder, not otherwise specified (NOS))
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 10, 2010
- Citation
- 1033933
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1033933.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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