{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/erectile-dysfunction-secondary-to-diabetes","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:20.271Z","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 diabetes","secondary_condition":"Erectile dysfunction","service_connected_disability":"diabetes","decisions":1846,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":26,"denied_pct":26.1,"remanded_pct":46.5,"granted_on_merits_pct":49.9,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":190,"granted_pct":17.9,"denied_pct":35.8,"remanded_pct":43.7},{"year":2018,"issues":249,"granted_pct":22.1,"denied_pct":32.9,"remanded_pct":43.4},{"year":2019,"issues":248,"granted_pct":22.6,"denied_pct":25.4,"remanded_pct":50.8},{"year":2020,"issues":275,"granted_pct":21.1,"denied_pct":25.5,"remanded_pct":50.9},{"year":2021,"issues":222,"granted_pct":27.9,"denied_pct":23,"remanded_pct":47.7},{"year":2022,"issues":214,"granted_pct":23.4,"denied_pct":22.4,"remanded_pct":52.3},{"year":2023,"issues":175,"granted_pct":29.7,"denied_pct":29.7,"remanded_pct":40},{"year":2024,"issues":135,"granted_pct":40,"denied_pct":16.3,"remanded_pct":43},{"year":2025,"issues":102,"granted_pct":39.2,"denied_pct":17.6,"remanded_pct":42.2},{"year":2026,"issues":39,"granted_pct":48.7,"denied_pct":17.9,"remanded_pct":30.8}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":74.8,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":287,"granted_pct_with":84.5,"granted_pct_without":39},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":1201,"granted_pct_with":47.4,"granted_pct_without":56.1},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":404,"granted_pct_with":86.9,"granted_pct_without":32},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":969,"granted_pct_with":46.9,"granted_pct_without":54},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":609,"granted_pct_with":63.3,"granted_pct_without":41.4},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":139,"granted_pct_with":73,"granted_pct_without":47.3},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":1353,"granted_pct_with":45.1,"granted_pct_without":69.3},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":54,"granted_pct_with":63,"granted_pct_without":49.6},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":167,"granted_pct_with":60.2,"granted_pct_without":49}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":95},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":67},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":50},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":9},{"reason":"veteran diagnosed with erectile dysfunction","decisions":5},{"reason":"criteria for secondary service connection met","decisions":5}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":58},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":52},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":37},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":37},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":17},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":16}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040886","year":2026,"judge":"JONATHAN HAGER","rationale":"Current disability (ED) established.; Veteran service-connected for diabetes and panic disorder.; Conflicting medical opinions presented.; Evidence evenly balanced.; Benefit of the doubt applied."},{"case_id":"A26040684","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL J. SKALTSOUNIS","rationale":"Veteran has a current diagnosis of ED.; Veteran is service-connected for DM II.; A private medical opinion found ED to be at least as likely as not due to DM II.; Benefit of the doubt applied to grant secondary service connection."},{"case_id":"26004372","year":2026,"judge":"DONNIE R. HACHEY","rationale":"ED is secondary to service-connected type 2 diabetes; VA physician found ED at least as likely as not due to diabetes; Medical literature links ED to long-standing diabetes"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26033547","year":2026,"judge":"R. BISIGNANI","rationale":"No verifiable herbicide exposure; Service treatment records silent for erectile dysfunction; VA examiner opined less likely than not caused by toxic exposure; No nexus to service or diabetes; Diabetes not service-connected"},{"case_id":"A26030502","year":2026,"judge":"ARDIE A. BLAND","rationale":"No in-service event, injury, or disease documented; No continuity of symptomatology; Earliest evidence post-service"},{"case_id":"A26026259","year":2026,"judge":"L. HOWELL","rationale":"ED not incurred in service; ED not secondary to service-connected disability; DM not service-connected"}]},"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":1849,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":512,"granted_pct":13.3},"causation_only":{"issues":1337,"granted_pct":30.8},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":4.5,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":43,"granted_pct":53.5,"examples":[{"case_id":"26001687","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Diabetes increases risk and damages nerves/blood supply for ED."},{"case_id":"A25062493","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"December 2023 VA examiner opined ED and peripheral neuropathies are due to DM."}]},{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":15,"granted_pct":0,"examples":[{"case_id":"24002690","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The Board found the condition arose post-service and was not related to service or toxic exposures, citing contributing factors like age, low testosterone, smoking, and obesity."}]},{"pathway":"Medication side effects","issues":13,"granted_pct":46.2,"examples":[{"case_id":"25000573","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Board determined that the VA examiner's opinion, despite initial negative language, effectively confirmed that atherosclerosis and autonomic neuropathy associated with DM and CAD, as well as medication side effects, contribute to ED."},{"case_id":"19129152","year":2019,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"His treatment records suggest the condition was related to medication side effects for his psychiatric disorder, which is not service-connected."}]}]},"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."}}