Hemorrhoids decisions — 2005

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of hemorrhoids. The case is being remanded to the AOJ for further development regarding the low back disorder.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of the appendectomy was granted, and service connection for hiatal hernia, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The veteran's current pain is related to residual adhesions from the appendectomy.

The veteran's hemorrhoids are shown to have begun during service and the Board finds that they were incurred in service. The remaining claims for service connection, including those related to a respiratory disability, are being remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found that service connection was granted for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear injury, but denied claims for heart disorder, sinusitis, left knee disorder, hemorrhoids, and increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia and musculoskeletal low back pain. The left foot disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected hemorrhoids, finding that the veteran's disability picture more nearly approximates that of large or thrombotic hemorrhoids which are irreducible and with excessive redundant tissue, evidencing frequent recurrences.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for mechanical low back pain and hemorrhoids are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, missing service medical records, and consideration of new rating criteria.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be of such severity that they preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hemorrhoids do not warrant an initial compensable evaluation prior to May 25, 2005 and does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent after May 25, 2005.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from caring for his daily personal needs, and do not render him unable to protect himself from the hazards of daily living. The veteran is not substantially confined to his house or immediate premises as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for acne and a left knee disability, and increased the ratings for costochondritis, actinic keratoses of bilateral hands, hemorrhoids, and umbilical hernia.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for internal hemorrhoids from June 1, 2003. The veteran's condition was characterized by recurrent or periodic bleeding with no fissures or anemia.

The veteran's claims for service connection for alopecia areata and hypertension, as well as the rating for hemorrhoids, were granted. The claim for a higher rating for GERD was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or sufficient medical findings to support the requested benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of a scar warranting a higher rating or any other condition that would justify an increase in evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia (claimed as due to Gulf War service) and hemorrhoids, finding no evidence of these conditions in service records or competent medical opinion linking them to service.,Service connection was also denied for a depressive disorder with an initial evaluation of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of hemorrhoids, residuals of a fracture of the left 6th rib, or a cervical spine disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of his conditions.

The veteran's skin cancer, nausea and cramping of the stomach and intestinal area, bleeding of the rectal area, arthritis, internal hemorrhaging, nerve condition, diabetes mellitus, anemia, lung and/or respiratory condition, liver condition, gallbladder condition, restless bowel syndrome, and diverticulitis are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hemorrhoids, calcaneal heel spurs (right foot), and calcaneal heel spurs (left foot). The claim for reopening a previously denied claim of service connection for status post meniscectomy, left knee, with degenerative joint disease was also denied.