Citation Nr: 20002203
Decision Date: 01/10/20	Archive Date: 01/09/20

DOCKET NO. 19-10 733
DATE: January 10, 2020

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 from May 1978 to May 1981, and from September 1981 to September 1995.

Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Veteran contends that his erectile dysfunction condition is due to medications prescribed to him for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board is unable to make a final decision on the Veteran’s claim of erectile dysfunction, because no medical opinion has been obtained as to whether the Veteran’s medications prescribed for his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his erectile dysfunction. On remand, the schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to obtain an etiology opinion.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Forward the claims file and copies of all pertinent records to an appropriate VA examiner to obtain a medical opinion for the Veteran’s erectile dysfunction claim. If the examiner determines that an opinion cannot be provided without an examination, one should be scheduled.

After reviewing the claims file, the examiner is asked to answer the following questions:

(a) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent probability) that any currently diagnosed erectile dysfunction condition was incurred in or is otherwise related to service?

(b) If (a) is answered no, is it at least as likely as not (probability of at least 50 percent) that any currently diagnosed erectile dysfunction condition has been caused or aggravated by medications taken for any of the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities?

The examiner is informed that aggravation here is defined as any increase in disability. If aggravation is present, the clinician should indicate, to the extent possible, the approximate level of disability (baseline) before the onset of the aggravation. A complete rationale must be provided for all opinions, citing to supporting factual data and medical literature, as appropriate. 

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If the examiner cannot provide an opinion without resort to speculation, the examiner must indicate why and note what, if any, additional evidence would permit such an opinion to be made.

 

 

M.E. Larkin

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	M. G. Perkins, Associate Counsel

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.