The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not manifested by a penis deformity, so he does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation. For his heart disorder and hypertension, the Board requested additional medical opinions on etiology and aggravation. The TDIU claim was also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's erectile dysfunction did not manifest a penile deformity, so he does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes. For his heart disorder and hypertension, additional medical opinions are needed to determine if they are proximately due or aggravated by service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Erectile Dysfunction, Heart Disorder (including idiopathic cardiomyopathy, unspecified cardiac dysrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia, congestive heart failure, palpitations, mitral valve insufficiency and replacement, coronary artery disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19147116
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and a higher rating for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy with muscle weakness, but granted an earlier effective date for the 60 percent disability rating for thrombosis, TIA or cerebral infarction with impairment of sphincter control and voiding dysfunction, and for service connection for pharynx and/or larynx and/or swallowing conditions residuals.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with MDD, service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the service-connected condition, and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance. However, it denied SMC based on housebound status.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a heart condition to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding whether the Veteran's current heart condition is related to service, including in-service treatment for hypertension.
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