Citation Nr: 21007468 Decision Date: 02/09/21 Archive Date: 02/09/21 DOCKET NO. 16-32 209 DATE: February 9, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for erectile dysfunction (including as secondary to psychiatric disability or medications) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from July 1998 to June 2001. This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran filed a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) to the RO’s decision in September 2015. The Veteran was scheduled for a hearing in August 2019. However, he did not appear for his hearing. There is no request to reschedule the hearing and no good cause is shown. Therefore, the Board considers the hearing request to be withdrawn and finds it may proceed with adjudication. The Board notes that in January 2021 the Veteran was granted service connection for his psychiatric disability claim under the Modernized Appeals system. 1. Service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to psychiatric disability or medications, is remanded. In July 1999, the Veteran was treated for penile discharge and dysuria while he was in service. In September 2015, the Veteran reported that he has erectile dysfunction that was caused by the medication that he was prescribed to treat his service-connected psychiatric condition. See September 2015 NOD. A review of the record shows the Veteran has not yet been afforded a VA examination for his claim. VA is required to provide an examination when there is insufficient medical evidence to decide the claim, but the record otherwise contains competent evidence of a current disability or recurrent symptoms, evidence of an in-service event, and evidence of an “indication” of a nexus. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 83 (2006); 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4)(i). Examination is critical to determining the merits on appeal and the Veteran has met the threshold that obligates VA to provide an examination (by showing competent evidence of a current disability or recurrent symptoms, evidence of an in-service event, and evidence of an indication of a nexus). Id. Therefore, a remand is necessary to provide an examination for the Veteran’s claimed erectile dysfunction condition. See Id. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by a genitourinary specialist or urologist to determine the nature and likely cause of his reported erectile dysfunction. Based on a review of the record, examination of the Veteran, and any tests or studies deemed necessary, the examiner should opine as to the following: (a.) Is it AT LEAST AS LIKELY AS NOT (a 50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to his military service? (b.) Is it AT LEAST AS LIKELY AS NOT (a 50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is CAUSED OR AGGRAVATED (WORSENED BEYOND ITS NATURAL PROGRESSION) by his service-connected psychiatric disability, INCLUDING any associated medications or treatments? A detailed explanation (rationale) is requested for all opinions provided. (By law, the Board is not permitted to rely on any conclusion that is not supported by a thorough explanation. Providing an opinion or conclusion without a thorough explanation will delay processing of the claim and may also result in a clarification being requested). VICTORIA MOSHIASHWILI Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board M.J. Smith, 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.