Hemorrhoids decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including re-evaluating the severity of the Veteran's hemorrhoids and rectal incontinence under appropriate diagnostic codes. The TDIU claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for chronic sinusitis and denied a higher rating for hemorrhoids since the effective date of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to comply with the Court's June 2004 decision, which found that VA had failed to provide proper notice. Additional development is needed for compliance with VA's duty to assist and notify.

The Veteran's service records do not show any chronic hemorrhoids or asbestos exposure. His current degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, residuals of hemorrhoidectomy, and pancreatitis were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's chronic hemorrhoids were first manifested in service and the Board finds that they are the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service, granting her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and he has been granted separate compensable evaluations for erectile dysfunction, gastroparesis, cataracts, and hemorrhoids as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected hemorrhoids, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The VA determined that the appellant does not currently have hemorrhoids, and therefore, a compensable evaluation for his service-connected hemorrhoids is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher rating during the appeal period.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for hemorrhoids was withdrawn, and a higher initial rating of 30 percent was granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis with an earlier effective date of February 13, 2004.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, but reopened the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially his PTSD, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hemorrhoids are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of small bowel resection with secondary gastroesophageal reflux disease and anemia, and grants service connection for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and the application to reopen were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, hypertension, a low back disorder, hemorrhoids, and gastritis was not established at the time of his death.