Hemorrhoids decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for nervous stomach/spastic colon, hemorrhoids, ruptured ear drum, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Director of Compensation and Pension Service determined that the Veteran is employable in a sedentary capacity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chronic sinusitis or varicose veins as a result of his active service. However, he was granted service connection for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to July 12, 2007. The effective date of his TDIU is set at July 12, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, and hemorrhoids. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his military service, thus denying all of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, chest pain (heart disorder), warts, lesions of the eyes, hemorrhoids, bilateral pes planus, and erectile dysfunction were all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU benefits was denied as there is no evidence of unemployability prior to December 13, 2007. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU before this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hemorrhoids.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected post-operative hemorrhoids and anal fistula more nearly approximated the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation under DC 7332, which is assigned for impairment of sphincter control. The Veteran was granted a rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding service connection for inflammatory bowel disease due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claims for service connection for peptic ulcer, hemorrhoids, and anal fissure were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his hemorrhoids was denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms warranted a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if hemorrhoids are related to service or service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids, finding that the Veteran's internal hemorrhoids are mild to moderate in degree with monthly flare-ups of painful stools and bleeding. The evidence did not support a compensable rating as there was no documentation of large or thrombotic hemorrhoids.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for hemorrhoids and found that a timely substantive appeal was submitted with respect to the April 2004 denial of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder. The issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hemorrhoids were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's hemorrhoids and left foot disorder, finding that there is continuity of symptoms since her initial diagnosis in 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for alopecia areata and a compensable initial rating for large external hemorrhoids was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have these conditions since discharge from service, and thus could not establish service connection.