Hemorrhoids decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury and hemorrhoids as his claims were not well grounded.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions were granted, with the exception of the right elbow disability. The coronary artery disease was increased to 30 percent, hemorrhoids to 10 percent, low back disability to 40 percent, and right hand disability to 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is not well grounded because there is no medical evidence confirming the presence of hemorrhoids during active duty and no competent medical evidence linking a current condition to service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's hemorrhoid disorder, finding that the current 10 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of her condition.

The veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids and service connection for a psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to his failure to report for scheduled examinations. Additional assistance is needed to ensure these issues can be properly evaluated.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left eye disability as secondary to his right eye disability and for an increased evaluation of his right eye disability. The claim for a higher rating for rectal sphincter impairment with hemorrhoids and chronic constipation was also denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, sinusitis, and rhinitis as the evidence did not support a finding of more than mild or moderate impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a temporary total convalescent rating based on hemorrhoid surgery in September 1995. The veteran argued that discharge instructions should have indicated convalescence, but the Board did not consider this evidence as clear and unmistakable error.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current hemorrhoids to his service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hemorrhoids and sinusitis due to a lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus and a right shoulder disorder. However, the claims for other conditions are not well-grounded.

The veteran's claims for sinusitis, postoperative pituitary tumor, allergic rhinitis, and hemorrhoids with rectal bleeding were previously addressed. The appeals for the postoperative pituitary tumor and hemorrhoids with rectal bleeding are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and an original compensable evaluation for a scar disability. The scar disability was granted with a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board finds that there is not a reasonable possibility of valid claims concerning the veteran's claimed disabilities, including hypothyroidism, hemorrhoids, bilateral eye disability, bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, asthma, low back disability, hypoglycemia, bilateral hand and ankle disabilities, gastrointestinal disability, acquired cognitive disorder, lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and residuals of Epstein-Barr virus infection. These conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and a skin disorder, finding that there is no evidence of chronic conditions in service or continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia, and depression associated with alcohol and drug abuse as they are not well-grounded.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and other disabilities render him unable to attend to his daily needs without the assistance of another person, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hemorrhoids, headaches, and a deviated nasal septum. The claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder was dismissed due to lack of timely appeal. Service connection for a left elbow disability was not reopened as it had already been denied in 1982.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, determining that it was due to lymphatic leukemia, which is a variant of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The Board found that the veteran had received payments as a result of an Agent Orange class action suit and believed he had been exposed to Agent Orange while in Vietnam. The Board also noted that the cause of death on the veteran's death certificate was likely incorrect.

The veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), increased rating for hemorrhoids, and increased rating for hepatitis have been denied. The veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for hepatitis from October 11, 1997 onwards.