Citation Nr: 21062488
Decision Date: 10/07/21	Archive Date: 10/07/21

DOCKET NO. 17-47 828
DATE: October 7, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active service in the United States Air Force from March 1989 to March 1993.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2014 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); this case is in VA's legacy appeals system.

In a March 2021 brief, the Veteran argued that his erectile dysfunction could be secondary to his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).  In a September 2021 brief, after he was granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the Veteran argued that his erectile dysfunction could be secondary to his PTSD.

The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction because no VA examiner has opined whether this condition is related to either IBS or PTSD.  A remand is required to obtain medical opinions on each of these claims.  

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding the etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction.

The examiner is asked to provide a response to the following:

Is the Veteran's erectile dysfunction at least as likely as not proximately due to service-connected IBS?

Is the Veteran's erectile dysfunction at least as likely as not aggravated, i.e., worsened beyond its natural progression, by service-connected IBS?

Is the Veteran's erectile dysfunction at least as likely as not proximately due to service-connected PTSD?

Is the Veteran's erectile dysfunction at least as likely as not aggravated, i.e., worsened beyond its natural progression, by service-connected PTSD?

The examiner should discuss any relevant medical literature identified by the Veteran, including:

(a.) A Startling Fact About Erectile Dysfunction and PTSD.  HealthGains (2017) (Last accessed October 7, 2021, at https://www.aaghealth.com/blog/erectile-dysfunction-2/erectile-dysfunction-and-ptsd)	

Provide a rationale to support the opinions.  

2. After the above development, and any additionally indicated development, has been completed, readjudicate the issue on appeal.  If any benefit sought is not granted to the Veteran's satisfaction, send the Veteran and his representative a Supplemental Statement of the Case and provide an opportunity to respond.  If necessary, return the case to the Board for further appellate review.

 

L. M. BARNARD

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Zimmerman, Micah

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.