Hemorrhoids decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not necessitate the care or assistance of another person on a regular basis to attend to his activities of daily living and to protect him from the hazard or dangers of his daily environment, thus denying entitlement to SMC.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of hemorrhoidectomy from January 23, 2006. The earlier period remains noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hemorrhoids do not warrant a compensable rating, as they are characterized as mild and easily treatable with over-the-counter medication.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current disabilities of hemorrhoids, an ear, nose and throat condition, or a disease causing bilateral lower extremity swelling. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The veteran's initial rating for hemorrhoids was granted at 10 percent effective December 11, 2002. He received a 20 percent rating from March 21, 2004 to July 22, 2004 and a 30 percent rating thereafter.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and urinary incontinence due to a radical prostatectomy, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a deviated nasal septum and denied service connection for this condition. The other claims were also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and for an initial compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids.

The Board has determined that an increased rating for hypertension is not warranted, and the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids was denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal of his claim for an increased rating for sleep apnea due to his withdrawal of that particular issue. The initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids was denied as there is no evidence of large or thrombotic, irreducible hemorrhoids with excessive redundant tissue, persistent bleeding, secondary anemia, or fissures.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not caused by his service or service-connected disabilities, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right inguinal hernia, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcer disease, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, and increased ratings for hemorrhoids and blepharitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to her military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for external hemorrhoids and a foot disability, as well as his claim for secondary service connection for degenerative joint disease of the feet. The issues have been remanded to obtain additional medical records and an opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's current foot condition and his service-connected pes planus.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not incur bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, or headaches due to trauma in service. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's character of discharge from his second period of service is a bar to receiving VA benefits for this period, and thus denied all claims on appeal.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD and hemorrhoids have been denied. The RO has granted service connection for alopecia, but the veteran disagrees with the noncompensable rating assigned.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids are manifested by an approximately .5 centimeter by 1 centimeter external hemorrhoid with subjective complaints of bleeding at least once per week, but without objective evidence of large or thrombotic irreducible hemorrhoid, excessive redundant tissue, persistent bleeding, secondary anemia, or fissures. Therefore, a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, onychomycosis (foot problems), headaches, and hemorrhoids. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable rating of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260, and no higher initial ratings are warranted.