Hemorrhoids decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids has been granted. Service connection for a respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma, bronchitis and COPD) is also granted. The left knee disorder and low back disorder are not service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids have caused persistent bleeding and secondary anemia, warranting a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and left leg deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were granted increased ratings. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, cervical spine disability, sinusitis, right knee disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis issues remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as of January 21, 2005, and therefore grants an effective date of January 21, 2005 for TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, left little finger fracture with residual flexion deformity, and hemorrhoids as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for these issues in August 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records from the Veteran's hospital and requesting a VA examination to determine the cause of death and its relation to service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for various disabilities, but only received noncompensable ratings.,A 10 percent initial rating was assigned for hemorrhoids.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea. The rating for hypertension is granted at a 10 percent evaluation, and the ratings for Graves' disease, rhinitis, and hemorrhoids are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids have been manifested by no worse than mild or moderate symptoms, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of extraschedular ratings. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for hemorrhoids remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examinations to determine his ability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, without considering nonservice-related factors such as age. The claim will be readjudicated after the examination reports are received.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The issue of an initial compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids is remanded due to outstanding VA records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hemorrhoids warrant a 10 percent rating throughout the appeal period, effective from October 28, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board found no evidence of an increase in the severity of his hearing loss since May 10, 2012, warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his bilateral foot disorder, skin disorder, and hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings adequately reflected the severity of these conditions.