Hemorrhoids decisions — 2010

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed due to his service in Vietnam. Service connection for a right knee disorder and an irregular heartbeat are denied, but the Veteran has been granted service connection for prostate cancer with a noncompensable evaluation, erectile dysfunction with a noncompensable evaluation, and hemorrhoids with a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of hemorrhoids, cervical spine disability, left eye disability, or psychiatric disability (including PTSD) related to service. As a result, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional action, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of hemorrhoidectomy, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not warrant a rating higher than 90 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's residuals of a subtotal gastrectomy for a duodenal ulcer are rated at 60 percent, effective from December 1, 2006. The Board also granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids, service connection for hypertension, arthritis of the left knee, and depression were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and spasms of the lower back. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions according to VA standards.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran has PTSD, but did not meet the criteria for higher initial or increased disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disorder, hemorrhoids, migraine headaches (claimed as Gulf War Syndrome), and allergic rhinitis was denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability at any time during the course of the appeal.

The Veteran's chronic hemorrhoids are manifested by recurrent external tags and discomfort, warranting a 10% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a VA opinion on his employability and whether he meets the criteria for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The appeals for increased evaluations are denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for 1151 compensation is granted as her gall bladder surgery in February 1997 resulted in additional disability, and the proximate cause of this disability was reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a skin rash, claimed as fungus, of the hands and feet or bronchitis, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms of intermittent bleeding, pain, itching, and discomfort did not warrant a compensable rating for hemorrhoids under Diagnostic Code 7336. The Board also determined that there was no evidence to support separate compensable ratings for colon polyps or diverticulitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his case. The issues include service connection for hemorrhoids, bruxism, a right testicle disorder, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and depression, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are likely as not to have had their clinical onset during his period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and hemorrhoids) prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease, hemorrhoids, sinusitis, and dermatophytosis of the right thigh and groin region as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for external hemorrhoids and his initial rating higher than 10 percent for a low back disability were both denied. The appeal is based on the severity of these conditions.