The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for COPD is granted based on evidence of a current disability, in-service disease or injury, and nexus.,Service connection for nephrolithiasis is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's prostate disability claim is remanded as there was no finding of a current disability at the time of examination.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the medications used to treat PTSD caused the erectile dysfunction, creating equipoise in the evidence and warranting granting service connection.,The Veteran's COPD diagnosis is supported by multiple service treatment records indicating shortness of breath and normal PFTs at separation. The VA examiner concluded the current disability was less likely related to service due to deconditioning post-service.,The VA examiner found no nexus between nephrolithiasis and service, noting lack of complaints or treatment for kidney stones in service and post-service records only mentioning them after seven years.,The January 2021 VA examination did not find a current prostate condition at the time of the examination. The presence of a disability during the pendency of the claim is sufficient to meet the current disability requirement.
- Claimed conditions
- erectile dysfunction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), prostate disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 29, 2022
- Citation
- 22018494
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 22018494.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Denied
The Veteran's respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD, is denied as service connection is not warranted due to the condition being solely attributed to smoking.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
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