Erectile Dysfunction And Its Service Connection: Things Veterans Must Know
Erectile dysfunction(ED) is a common problem for men that is even more prevalent among military veterans.
Mental or physical health conditions can lead to ED. VA disability benefits are available to compensate veterans for such problems.
Learn more about ED in this post.
Erectile Dysfunction And Its Symptoms
Erectile dysfunction is a constant inability to have or maintain an erection for sexual intercourse. A physical or psychological problem can cause it.
The most typical symptoms of erectile dysfunction include the following:
- Difficulty having or maintaining an erection
- Decreased interest in sexual activity
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem
Several factors can result in ED, including those associated with the brain, emotions, hormones, nerves, blood vessels, and muscles.
Mental health and stress concerns can cause or aggravate this problem. A combination of health issues also can lead to ED.
General physical causes of erectile dysfunction include:
- High cholesterol or blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Certain prescription medications
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Alcoholism and other forms of substance use
- Tobacco use
- Sleep disorders
- Psychological reasons include depression, anxiety, stress, and relationship issues
- Treatments for prostate cancer or enlarged prostate
- Low testosterone
- Surgery or injury that affects the pelvic area or spinal cord
Men with erectile dysfunction are commonly treated for underlying mental or physical health concerns. Your doctor may prescribe medications or assistive devices if it doesn’t help the issue.
Erectile Dysfunction(ED) VA Rating
Veterans Affairs use a system of disability ratings to evaluate what level of common symptoms a veteran experiences and how much those affect their life.
The rating you get determines your disability compensation. VA ratings range from 0% (a non-compensable disability) to 100% (full disability).
Unlike many other disabilities, the VA doesn’t assign a particular disability rating schedule for ED. Instead, it rates erectile dysfunction under multiple concerns.
The conditions such as partial removal of the penis(30%), atrophy of testicles(20%), glans removal(20%), and erection difficulty due to deformity(20%) from the Schedule of Ratings apply to ED.
If these codes don’t apply to your health condition, you can get an automatic VA disability rating of 0%.
Why Erectile Dysfunction Is Considered A Secondary Condition?
Veterans seeking VA disability benefits for ED must prove their service connection to achieve compensation.
The only way you can directly connect erectile dysfunction to your service is if you’re injured during that, and it immediately leads to ED.
Additionally, a secondary service connection is the more likely way to connect erectile dysfunction to your military service.
The secondary link indicates you should be service-connected for that problem, illness, or injury resulting in ED. Then you also could be service-connected for erectile dysfunction.
For instance, if you develop PTSD due to military service, it could lead to ED.
To build a service connection, you must present the VA with all the evidence linking your condition with your military service.
You can do it in the form of a medical nexus letter. The VA can also request you to attend a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination, where a VA physician will assess your health condition.
How To obtain VA Disability Benefits For ED?
You must file a disability claim for the VA to consider benefits compensation for erectile dysfunction.
The VA may usually ask for a C&P exam. The examining doctor will evaluate you and ask specific questions about your service.
You also may use a DBQ(Disability Benefits Questionnaire) to help your benefits claim. A DBQ enables you to address your symptoms, severity, causes, and how your condition is related to other disabilities.
A private doctor can also complete that form for you.
