Hemorrhoids decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his hemorrhoids and right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for hemorrhoids, asthma, or hearing loss. The veteran's claims were denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and gum disease. The evidence did not provide new and material information to reopen the claim for hearing loss. There is no medical evidence linking the current conditions to service or any other relevant exposure basis.

The Board has restored the veteran's rating for hemorrhoids from 10 percent to 20 percent, finding that his symptoms have persisted without improvement and thus warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for rectal cancer, diabetes mellitus, and hemorrhoids have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a respiratory disorder (including sinusitis with headaches), a headache disorder, a hemorrhoidal disorder, and a low back disorder. The claim to reopen service connection for diabetes mellitus was also denied. Additionally, the original rating in excess of 10 percent for generalized joint pain due to undiagnosed illness and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected hemorrhoids, finding that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, and his left bipartite patella warrants a 10% disability rating. The decision is granted for both issues.

The veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension, which was rated at 100% disabling from June 9, 1997 and reduced to 60% in August 1, 1998 due to reduction in service-connected disability rating, allowed the appellant to receive special monthly compensation based on additional independent 100 percent disability for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a compensable rating of 10 percent for COPD prior to January 21, 2002. The claims for tinnitus, sinusitis, hemorrhoids, and allergic rhinitis were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury. The claims for stomach disorder and hemorrhoids were denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing an etiological relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of various service-connected conditions were denied by the Board. The cardiovascular-renal disease with hypertension was not rated higher than 30 percent prior to January 12, 1998 and from January 12, 1998 onwards it was rated as no more than Class II consistent with 4 to 5 METs and left ventricular dysfunction. The hiatal hernia was rated as noncompensable before August 1, 2000 and compensable after that date. The right ear otitis externa was not rated higher than noncompensable. Conjunctivitis was inactive and hemorrhoids were not rated higher than noncompensable. The residuals of a fracture of the right fifth metacarpal (Major) were healed and without any objectively demonstrated functional loss.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including right knee degenerative arthritis, cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative joint disease, tension headaches, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and alcohol dependence, do not render him unemployable due to his back and neck problems. His combined evaluation is 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected conditions have been granted, with the highest rating of 20 percent assigned for his left shoulder disability.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a compensable rating for his hemorrhoids. The claims of service connection for headaches, joint stiffness, prostatism, and residuals of left ankle and foot injury were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions began during service or are causally linked to any incident of active duty.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to his left foot and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for postoperative hemorrhoids.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed hemorrhoids were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.