{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/erectile-dysfunction-secondary-to-hypertension","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:20.931Z","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 hypertension","secondary_condition":"Erectile dysfunction","service_connected_disability":"hypertension","decisions":694,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":37,"denied_pct":17.6,"remanded_pct":44.7,"granted_on_merits_pct":67.8,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":39,"granted_pct":33.3,"denied_pct":35.9,"remanded_pct":30.8},{"year":2018,"issues":65,"granted_pct":23.1,"denied_pct":20,"remanded_pct":53.8},{"year":2019,"issues":64,"granted_pct":23.4,"denied_pct":12.5,"remanded_pct":64.1},{"year":2020,"issues":73,"granted_pct":28.8,"denied_pct":30.1,"remanded_pct":41.1},{"year":2021,"issues":75,"granted_pct":32,"denied_pct":22.7,"remanded_pct":44},{"year":2022,"issues":66,"granted_pct":33.3,"denied_pct":15.2,"remanded_pct":51.5},{"year":2023,"issues":98,"granted_pct":39.8,"denied_pct":13.3,"remanded_pct":45.9},{"year":2024,"issues":80,"granted_pct":45,"denied_pct":16.3,"remanded_pct":37.5},{"year":2025,"issues":100,"granted_pct":50,"denied_pct":9,"remanded_pct":41},{"year":2026,"issues":35,"granted_pct":62.9,"denied_pct":8.6,"remanded_pct":28.6}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":72.4,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":118,"granted_pct_with":90.9,"granted_pct_without":59.6},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":555,"granted_pct_with":65.4,"granted_pct_without":80.3},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":177,"granted_pct_with":91.3,"granted_pct_without":52.4},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":466,"granted_pct_with":65.6,"granted_pct_without":72.6},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":236,"granted_pct_with":76.1,"granted_pct_without":61.8},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":502,"granted_pct_with":62,"granted_pct_without":82.9}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":59},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":49},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":33},{"reason":"erectile dysfunction diagnosed","decisions":4},{"reason":"criteria for secondary service connection met","decisions":4},{"reason":"service connection for hypertension granted","decisions":4}],"denied":[{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":18},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":14},{"reason":"hypertension not service-connected","decisions":13},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":7},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":7},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":5}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26033244","year":2026,"judge":"KRISTIN HADDOCK","rationale":"Evidence weighed in favor of claim; Private physician opinion found probative; ED caused by medication for service-connected hypertension"},{"case_id":"A26031965","year":2026,"judge":"RAY BARTO SLABBEKORN, JR.","rationale":"Current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction established by treatment records and prescription of Sildenafil.; Veteran is service-connected for hypertension.; Evidence regarding causation/aggravation by hypertension was in approximate balance, leading to benefit of the doubt grant."},{"case_id":"A26029511","year":2026,"judge":"A. ISHIZAWAR","rationale":"Erectile dysfunction is etiologically related to hypertension; Hypertension is service-connected; Board resolves doubt in Veteran's favor to establish nexus"}],"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":"A26009459","year":2026,"judge":"T. RAYMOND","rationale":"Probative evidence favors finding erectile dysfunction did not begin during service.; No competent indication of in-service nexus.; Claim denied as secondary to hypertension, which was not service-connected."},{"case_id":"A26005740","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL A. PAPPAS","rationale":"No in-service complaints or diagnosis of erectile dysfunction.; VA examiner provided negative opinion for direct and secondary service connection.; Erectile dysfunction attributed to hypertension medications, which were not service-connected.; Lack of competent evidence linking erectile dysfunction … [truncated, 42 chars omitted]"}]},"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":695,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":190,"granted_pct":17.9},"causation_only":{"issues":505,"granted_pct":44.2},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":7.8,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Medication side effects","issues":28,"granted_pct":46.4,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26013253","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Stopped hydrochlorothiazide for hypertension due to side effects including erectile dysfunction."},{"case_id":"A26037280","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Lay statements suggested medication-induced connection"}]},{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":13,"granted_pct":7.7,"examples":[{"case_id":"24033724","year":2024,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"While acknowledging hypogonadism and obesity as contributing factors, the Board found medical reasoning supported a causal nexus between ED and migraine medication, hypertension, and mental health disorder, granting the claim on a..."},{"case_id":"A24039950","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"However, the Board found that the erectile dysfunction was not caused or aggravated by the service-connected hypertension, citing multiple non-service-connected risk factors including age, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle as the primary..."}]}]},"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."}}