Hemorrhoids decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids, finding that his depression was not related to military service, his left knee disorder was not secondary to his right knee disability, hypertension was not due to military service, and his hemorrhoids did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied all of the veteran's service connection claims, including diabetes mellitus, back disability, allergies, hepatitis, hemorrhoids, and epilepsy.

The Board has granted service connection for the left shoulder disability as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability. The effective date of the increased rating for the left knee disability is set at March 29, 2004. The veteran's TMJ syndrome and hemorrhoids are rated based on their current manifestations.

The veteran's hemorrhoids are currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of bleeding or leakage. The duodenal ulcer is inactive and does not cause significant symptoms. The right first toe fracture has resulted in a 10% rating.,There is insufficient evidence to warrant increased ratings for any of the conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for hemorrhoids and also did not grant an increased rating for his hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for any of the claimed conditions and denied service connection for all issues.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as they do not meet the legal criteria.

The veteran is granted increased disability ratings for post-operative residuals of right and left total knee replacements, effective from April 21, 2004, and July 1, 2004 respectively.,Effective dates are assigned for the grant of service connection for hemorrhoids and TDIU.

The veteran's claim of secondary service connection for hemorrhoids was granted, and he is now receiving a 10 percent rating for his right wrist disability. His left clavicle fracture with fibromyalgia and myalgia also received a 10 percent rating effective from October 2, 2001. The veteran's GERD remains at a 10 percent rating.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at noncompensable, and he does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities since May 3, 2006.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for any of the claimed conditions and there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service. Therefore, all claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed residuals of a spider bite and hemorrhoids are not service-connected as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for left knee strain, right knee strain, and hemorrhoids have been denied. The RO assigned a noncompensable rating for hemorrhoids prior to August 1, 2007, and a 10 percent rating since then.

The VA denied an increased rating for hemorrhoids, finding that the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to February 28, 2003 and was noncompensable as of that date.

The veteran's claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the April 1971 rating decision assigning a noncompensable evaluation for postoperative residuals of hemorrhoidectomy has been dismissed as there is no valid claim of CUE.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, left inguinal hernia, and service-connected neck scar. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss before April 21, 2004 is granted with an evaluation of zero percent. The claim for service connection for hemorrhoids remains pending as new and material evidence has not been received. The claims for service connection for varicocelectomy scar are granted.

The veteran's initial compensable disability rating for hemorrhoids was denied by the RO, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Curtiss Clinic in Ohio and Ford Hospital in Detroit.