Erectile dysfunction is far more common among veterans than most people realise, and in many cases it can be claimed through DVA, particularly when it is connected to another accepted condition or its treatment.
This guide explains why ED affects veterans, how DVA approaches it, and the evidence that helps. For the wider picture, see our DVA medical conditions hub and our explainer on the DVA impairment points table.
Article at a glance
- Often a secondary condition: ED is frequently linked to PTSD, depression, medication, diabetes or injury.
- It can be claimable: if it connects to service or to an accepted condition, DVA may accept liability.
- Evidence matters: a clear diagnosis and a documented link are what move a claim forward.
- Treatment is covered: once accepted, treatment is funded through your DVA card.
Why erectile dysfunction affects veterans
ED can have physical causes, psychological causes, or both, and for veterans it often sits downstream of something else. Mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression and anxiety are common contributors, as are the medications used to treat them. Physical factors play a role too, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, prostate conditions, and spinal or pelvic injury. Because of these links, ED is frequently what DVA calls a secondary condition, one that arises as a consequence of an already accepted condition or its treatment.
Can you claim erectile dysfunction through DVA?
Yes, it can be claimable. DVA can accept liability where ED is connected to your service, or where it arises as a secondary condition to something already accepted, such as PTSD, depression, diabetes or a medication you take for an accepted condition. As with any claim, acceptance is assessed against the relevant Statement of Principles and the evidence you provide. The secondary pathway is the one many veterans miss, so it is worth reviewing what conditions you already have accepted before you rule anything out.
The evidence that helps
A strong claim usually rests on a few clear pieces of evidence:
- A diagnosis from your GP or a specialist
- Your treatment history and any medications involved
- The link to your service, or to a condition DVA has already accepted
- Relevant medical records covering the contributing condition
It is a sensitive subject, and many veterans feel uncomfortable raising it. It is worth remembering that to DVA it is simply a medical condition, assessed on documented evidence rather than opinion. Getting the right diagnosis recorded is the single most useful step, and our guide on getting the right DVA diagnosis walks through that.
What happens once a claim is accepted
If liability is accepted, treatment for the condition is funded through your DVA card, and the condition is factored into your overall impairment assessment, which can affect compensation. How much it contributes depends on the individual assessment against the guide to determining impairment, so it is best confirmed case by case.
Frequently asked questions
Is erectile dysfunction really claimable through DVA?
It can be, where it connects to your service or arises as a secondary condition to something already accepted, such as PTSD, depression, diabetes or related medication. Each claim is assessed on its evidence.
What is a secondary condition?
A condition that arises as a consequence of another accepted condition or its treatment. ED is a common example, often flowing from mental health conditions or their medication.
Will treatment be covered?
Once a claim is accepted, treatment for the condition is funded through your DVA card.
Think this might apply to you?
Our expert team can help you work out whether ED links to an accepted condition and prepare the evidence to support a claim.
Related from KSC Law
- DVA medical conditions hub
- ADF PTSD compensation
- Getting the right DVA diagnosis
- DVA claims and the claims process