Hemorrhoids decisions — 2003

The Board dismissed the appeal due to a lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal regarding the ratings assigned for low back, hiatal hernia, and hemorrhoidial disorders.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a neck disorder, bilateral knee disorders, hemorrhoids, frostbite of the feet, hands, and ears, a finger disability, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis on allergen exposure. The decision is based on the merits of the cases without invoking any presumptive or secondary service connection theories.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his hemorrhoids, currently evaluated as 0% disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current cardiovascular disability and his hemorrhoids are currently asymptomatic, without more than mild or moderate symptoms. Therefore, service connection for cardiovascular disability is denied, and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids is also denied.

The Board has granted an initial 10% rating for dyspepsia and denied a compensable rating for hemorrhoids, both effective from the veteran's separation date.

The Board found no evidence of a current hemorrhoid disability related to service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The hearing loss issue remains pending.

The veteran's service connected disabilities, including dysthymia and bilateral foot impairments, are sufficient to produce unemployability without regard to advancing age. The Board finds that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence on the issue of whether the veteran's service connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hemorrhoids are related to his service-connected anal fissure and have granted service connection for this condition.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids since October 31, 1997. The medical evidence did not support the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under Code 7336, and therefore denied his claim for an increased rating.

The veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids, chondromalacia patella of the left knee, and status post anterior cruciate ligament repair of the right knee are not shown to be more than mild or moderate in degree. The Board finds that there is no basis for granting compensable evaluations for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids. The veteran's depressive and anxiety disorder was rated at 50 percent disabling.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected status postoperative anal fissure does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating, as there is no objective evidence of current symptoms or impairment.

The veteran's organic brain syndrome was granted a 100% disability rating, and his hemorrhoids were granted a 10% disability rating. The claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, left hand cramping, and right shoulder cramping were denied. The claim of new and material evidence to reopen the carpal tunnel syndrome was dismissed due to lack of timely appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and higher evaluations for several conditions, including shortness of breath, chronic joint pain, arthritis of the right knee due to trauma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, sleep apnea, and hemorrhoids.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids, finding that his current service-connected condition does not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for additional disability related to VA treatment were denied as there was no evidence that the VA treatment caused or aggravated his conditions.

The veteran's multiple conditions, including anxiety disorder and arthritis, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, hypertension, and hemorrhoids. The claim for service connection for a multiple joint disorder (to include arthritis and gout) is pending.