Citation Nr: 18140945
Decision Date: 10/09/18	Archive Date: 10/09/18

DOCKET NO. 16-23 800
DATE:	October 9, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from October 1988 to January 1993.  This case comes on appeal of an April 2015 rating decision.  
Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities is remanded.
The Veteran asserts that his current erectile dysfunction disability was caused or aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected disabilities, to include medications taken for his service-connected conditions.  
Service connection is currently in effect for asthma, allergic rhinitis with deviation of the nasal septum, chronic maxillary sinusitis, shin splints of both legs, and epididymitis.
The Veteran underwent VA examinations in July 2009 and May 2013, where examiners opined that the Veteran’s erectile dysfunction was not causally related to service-connected epididymitis.  There are no opinions of record addressing whether the Veteran’s erectile dysfunction is aggravated by epididymitis, or caused or aggravated by any other service-connected disability, to include medications.  In particular, the Veteran has asserted that his erectile dysfunction could be caused by the steroid-based medications he takes for service-connected asthma. 
Accordingly, on remand, the Veteran should be afforded a new examination, and the examiner should address provide opinions addressing the Veteran’s contentions. 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain any relevant, outstanding VA treatment records that are not already associated with the claims file.
2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination of the male reproductive system.  The examiner should review the entire claims file, to include a copy of this Remand, and the report of examination should include discussion of the Veteran’s documented history and assertions.  All indicated tests and studies should be accomplished and all clinical findings should be reported in detail.  
The examiner should render an opinion, as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s erectile dysfunction was caused or aggravated beyond its natural progression by any service-connected disability, to include any medications the Veteran takes to treat his service-connected disabilities.  
As noted above, service connection is currently in effect for asthma, allergic rhinitis with deviation of the nasal septum, chronic maxillary sinusitis, shin splints of both legs, and epididymitis.

The examiner should set forth all examination findings, along with complete rationale for the conclusions reached, in a printed report.  In particular, the examiner should comment on the Veteran’s assertion that his erectile dysfunction could be caused or aggravated by steroid-based medications taken to treat his service-connected asthma disability.
3. Once the above development has been achieved, as well as any other development deemed necessary thereafter, readjudicate the appeal.  If any benefits sought remain denied, issue a supplemental statement of the case and return the case to the Board.
 
V. Chiappetta
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. Giaquinto, Associate Counsel