Hemorrhoids decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and compensable evaluations for his claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and compensable rating for hemorrhoids. The claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is referred to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for apportionment of the veteran's service-connected disability compensation payments, finding that a special apportionment would cause undue financial hardship to the veteran.

The Board denied reopening of the veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, pulmonary calcifications (claimed as tuberculosis), left shoulder bursitis, and arthritis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 26, 2002 for the grant of TDIU due to unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities. The veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU at that time.

The Board has remanded the case for proper notice and to afford the veteran a VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his combined rating is only 10 percent and does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The Board finds that referral for extraschedular consideration is not warranted.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for hemorrhoids, effective May 4, 2001. The condition is considered to be of the moderate severity level.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for hemorrhoids, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.,Specifically, the veteran's hemorrhoids were found to not cause persistent bleeding or secondary anemia, thus not meeting the criteria for a 20 percent rating. Her sinusitis was found to have less than three incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment and no more than six non-incapacitating episodes characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. Lastly, her allergic rhinitis did not meet the criteria for either a 10 percent or 30 percent rating due to lack of polyps and obstruction.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hemorrhoids, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore service connection for each condition is denied.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for hemorrhoids and pulmonary tuberculosis were denied as there is no evidence of active conditions, and the current disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits in the amount of $3,660. The decision found that the debt was valid and that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits in the amount of $3,660. The decision found that the debt was valid and that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids are manifested by symptoms that are mild to moderate in severity and do not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The VA denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's hemorrhoids, finding that they do not meet the criteria for such an evaluation based on their current symptoms and findings.

The veteran died of metastatic sarcoma, but the VA medical opinion and independent medical expert (IME) concluded that his service-connected cervical spine disability did not cause or contribute to his death. The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a whiplash injury to the cervical area and for an evaluation of status post sigmoidoscopy and hemorrhoidectomy. The case is being remanded for further action regarding the latter issue.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and hemorrhoids) do not render him unemployable, as he is currently working full-time as a truck driver.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis and hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found no evidence of incapacitating episodes or significant impairment in earning capacity due to his service-connected conditions.