Hemorrhoids decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for chronic gastritis and assigned a noncompensable disability rating effective January 12, 2009. The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as the request to withdraw her peptic ulcer disease claim during the March 15, 2012, hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for hemorrhoids are pending.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and accrued benefits. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding that any service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's residuals of hemorrhoidectomy with decreased rectal sphincter tone were not found to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 24, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids was reopened and granted due to the evidence showing that her hemorrhoids had onset during active duty in the Persian Gulf.,Service connection was also established for a right knee disability, with the Board finding that the Veteran's current condition was permanently aggravated by an injury sustained during active duty for training on September 11, 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for status-post damage, right long buccal nerve and hemorrhoids have been denied as his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from the appellant's reported hospitalization and/or surgery in service at Perrin Air Force Base. Additionally, a new opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the left knee disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, sinusitis, skin disability of the lower extremities, and hemorrhoids need to be remanded as well.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his hemorrhoids was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show persistent bleeding or fissures, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7336.

The Veteran is seeking specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his service-connected disabilities, but the RO/AMC needs to schedule an examination and consider the revised VA regulations for these grants.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent evaluation for his service-connected hemorrhoids, as his condition warrants this rating based on recurrent leakage of fecal matter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder. The remaining issues of spine, shoulder, knee, and hemorrhoids disorders will be addressed through further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy are rated noncompensable (0 percent) throughout the rating period on appeal due to mild external hemorrhoids without large or thrombotic hemorrhoids, frequent recurrences, persistent bleeding, or anal fissures. The Board finds no basis for an increased disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal, lung, and cardiac disabilities are related to his service-connected paralysis of the left diaphragm.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is therefore REMANDED for further action.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's hemorrhoids, effective March 27, 2006. The condition is rated under the applicable diagnostic code based on its symptoms and not by analogy to other conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, uterine fibroids, and hemorrhoids since the specified dates. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these cases.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities, and the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and the need to obtain additional records.