Hemorrhoids decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as of July 14, 2009. His combined disability rating is 80 percent with consideration of the bilateral factor.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have left ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's external hemorrhoids are rated at a 10% disability rating, effective from the date of the grant of service connection. The appeal for an earlier effective date for GERD is dismissed.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for internal and external hemorrhoids with history of anal fissure, finding that no claim was filed prior to July 23, 1981.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% disabling, effective February 25, 2008. The claim for service connection for hemorrhoids has been reopened.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a left foot disability, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted. The Veteran's claims for sinusitis and hemorrhoids are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had a current hemorrhoid disability and it was incurred during his active service. Therefore, service connection for the hemorrhoid disability is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause functional limitations that prevent him from overcoming his employment handicap, and thus he is not entitled to vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31 of Title 38 of the United States Code.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids have been manifested by intermittent flare-ups with rectal bleeding, swelling, and pain. The Board has determined that the benefit of doubt should be given to the Veteran, and a 10 percent rating for his hemorrhoids is warranted.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety disorder, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus disability, back disability with sciatica, numbness of the right lower extremity, ruptured disc, residuals of a neck injury, and left arm and shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for purchase of an automobile and/or adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, as he is not service connected for any qualifying problem.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, hemorrhoids, and an initial rating for coronary artery disease are being REMANDED due to the need for additional development. The claim for increase for right lower extremity arteriosclerosis is also being REMANDED.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral leg pain, residuals of an injury to Muscle Group III, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The appeals were all denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated opinion regarding the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD, plantar calluses, hemorrhoids, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for hypertension, hemorrhoids, and ganglion cyst of the right foot as there was no evidence showing that these conditions met the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran is entitled to a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, but not for a home adaptation grant as he is already eligible for the former.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining more recent treatment records from the Philadelphia VAMC. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for hemorrhoids, internal and external, post operative is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple orthopedic conditions, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-patient records from the Perrin Air Force Base hospital and providing a new VA opinion regarding the left knee disability. The claims for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, sinusitis, skin disability, and hemorrhoids are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids was denied as the criteria for a compensable rating were not met.