Hemorrhoids decisions — 2009

The Board denied all service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, a back disability, allergies, hepatitis, hemorrhoids, and epilepsy. The evidence did not support the Veteran's assertions of in-service or post-service connections.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of gastritis was denied as there is no current diagnosis. The claims for service connection of hemorrhoids with chronic constipation and low back disability are pending due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hemorrhoids do not warrant a compensable rating as they are currently manifested by moderate symptoms and no persistent bleeding or anemia.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of hemorrhoids or iritis, and thus the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and service connection were denied. The conditions claimed, including hemorrhoids, parotid calculus and lump on the left cheek, skin condition of the hands, bronchitis, laryngitis, frostbite of the feet and hands, otitis media, compression neuropathy of the left side, bilateral knee pain and fluid, allergic reaction to a typhoid shot (chronic rhinitis), and exposure to ethylene and nitrous oxide gases were not found to be service-connected or warrant higher initial evaluations.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and increased the disability rating for PTSD to 30 percent. The claim for an earlier effective date for the 10 percent rating for bilateral pes planus was not addressed in this decision.

For hemorrhoids, the Veteran is not entitled to a compensable disability evaluation.,For residuals of trench foot, the Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent disability evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and medical records review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction with headaches contributed to his death by causing or contributing to heart failure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting chronic headache disability was aggravated by service, and thus is entitled to service connection. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids, which are manifested by intermittent flare-ups with pain, swelling and bleeding.

The Veteran's GERD/Barrett's esophagus and gallbladder disease were not shown to be related to service, and the Board found no evidence of onset during service. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are denied as there is no credible evidence that they began in service.,PTSD and IBS claims are both pending due to insufficient information.

The Board found that the Veteran's hemorrhoid condition is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a fee basis outpatient identification card due to the availability of geographically accessible VA facilities that can provide necessary psychiatric services, including at the St. Louis VAMC.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected hemorrhoids is being remanded due to the need for an additional VA examination to determine if his impairment of sphincter control, with associated leakage, is related to his service-connected hemorrhoids.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle sprain and hemorrhoids, as well as an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for varicose vein stripping and an initial compensable evaluation for labyrinthitis. The decisions were consistent with VA law and regulations at the time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on unemployability. The case is REMANDED to obtain an opinion regarding whether he is capable of securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.