{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/erectile-dysfunction-secondary-to-back","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:12.445Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"claim":"Erectile dysfunction secondary to a back condition","secondary_condition":"Erectile dysfunction","service_connected_disability":"a back condition","decisions":662,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":26.7,"denied_pct":19.8,"remanded_pct":52.6,"granted_on_merits_pct":57.5,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":44,"granted_pct":4.5,"denied_pct":36.4,"remanded_pct":56.8},{"year":2018,"issues":64,"granted_pct":23.4,"denied_pct":23.4,"remanded_pct":50},{"year":2019,"issues":64,"granted_pct":25,"denied_pct":25,"remanded_pct":46.9},{"year":2020,"issues":76,"granted_pct":21.1,"denied_pct":21.1,"remanded_pct":57.9},{"year":2021,"issues":59,"granted_pct":16.9,"denied_pct":28.8,"remanded_pct":52.5},{"year":2022,"issues":67,"granted_pct":29.9,"denied_pct":14.9,"remanded_pct":55.2},{"year":2023,"issues":66,"granted_pct":25.8,"denied_pct":15.2,"remanded_pct":59.1},{"year":2024,"issues":96,"granted_pct":36.5,"denied_pct":14.6,"remanded_pct":49},{"year":2025,"issues":94,"granted_pct":36.2,"denied_pct":12.8,"remanded_pct":51.1},{"year":2026,"issues":32,"granted_pct":37.5,"denied_pct":15.6,"remanded_pct":46.9}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":78.5,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":83,"granted_pct_with":73,"granted_pct_without":53.5},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":534,"granted_pct_with":53.1,"granted_pct_without":78.8},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":156,"granted_pct_with":84.7,"granted_pct_without":39.1},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":430,"granted_pct_with":50.7,"granted_pct_without":73.1},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":246,"granted_pct_with":67.5,"granted_pct_without":47.4},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":491,"granted_pct_with":53.9,"granted_pct_without":70.1}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":43},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":27},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":16},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":6},{"reason":"criteria for secondary service connection met","decisions":4},{"reason":"no contrary opinion of record","decisions":3}],"denied":[{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":17},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":17},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":14},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":9},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":9},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":8}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"26004996","year":2026,"judge":"MARTIN B. PETERS","rationale":"Positive nexus opinion found probative despite factual inaccuracy.; Spine injury and degenerative changes linked to ED.; Benefit of the doubt applied due to equipoise."},{"case_id":"A26037763","year":2026,"judge":"JOHN J. CROWLEY","rationale":"Equipoise of evidence; Benefit of the doubt applied; Secondary to service-connected back disability"},{"case_id":"A26035364","year":2026,"judge":"KRISTY L. ZADORA","rationale":"Veteran has current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction.; Private medical opinions found degenerative disc disease contributes to erectile dysfunction.; Opinions were probative and well-reasoned, connecting erectile dysfunction to service-connected back disorder."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26037280","year":2026,"judge":"HARVEY P. ROBERTS","rationale":"Lay statements suggested medication-induced connection; Treatment records lacked notation of connection; VA examiner opined no causation/aggravation from service-connected conditions or medications"},{"case_id":"A26030483","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL A. HERMAN","rationale":"No indication of in-service event for ED; Thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis not service-connected during review period; No VA medical opinion required or provided for secondary nexus"},{"case_id":"26001163","year":2026,"judge":"WILLIAM H. DONNELLY","rationale":"Service treatment records negative for erectile dysfunction.; VA examiner opined less likely than not related to service.; VA examiner attributed condition to obesity and lifestyle."}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":662,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":204,"granted_pct":7.8},"causation_only":{"issues":458,"granted_pct":35.2},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":23.1,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":77,"granted_pct":24.7,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26009713","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) was granted as secondary to the veteran's service-connected low back disability, LLE radiculopathy, femoral nerve, and generalized anxiety disorder."},{"case_id":"26001163","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The VA examiner stated the thoracolumbar strain did not affect the nerve bundle responsible for erections."}]},{"pathway":"Medication side effects","issues":42,"granted_pct":47.6,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26025525","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Veteran claimed ED due to chronic pain and medication side effects from his back condition."},{"case_id":"A26037280","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Lay statements suggested medication-induced connection"}]},{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":28,"granted_pct":60.7,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26025525","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Private opinion found ED more likely than not due to chronic pain from musculoskeletal conditions."},{"case_id":"A25014674","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The Veteran claimed service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), alleging it was the result of chronic pain."}]},{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":15,"granted_pct":13.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"25007244","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"June 2020 VA opinion found erectile dysfunction not related to lumbar spine disorder, attributed to obesity"},{"case_id":"26001163","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"VA examiner attributed condition to obesity and lifestyle.."}]}]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}