Hemorrhoids decisions — 2014

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are found to have had an onset during service and is granted service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a left ankle injury, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and gastrointestinal disorder (chronic diarrhea) is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids. The Board also found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hemorrhoids began during his military service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's dental bone loss claim has been withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection for contact dermatitis and hemorrhoids have both been established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed hip, pes planus, low back strain, neck disorder, or eye disorders. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn. The claims for higher initial ratings for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee subluxation, and sacroiliac dysfunction are denied as they do not meet the criteria for the assigned disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified joint pain, hemorrhoids, and degenerative bone disease were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids, as well as his service connection claims for left lateral epicondylitis, right sided chest pain, hypertension, stomach virus/gastroenteritis, elevated liver enzymes, and prostate disability. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's conditions are related to his service and have granted service connection for all claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection has been granted, and he is now entitled to a TDIU as of September 9, 2008. The right knee increased rating issue remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling prior to March 12, 2009. The evidence does not show that his PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,Prior to November 1, 2013, the Veteran's asthma is not shown to have been productive of an FEV-1 of 71-80 percent predicted, an FEV-1/FVC of 71-80 percent, or that he required intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy. As of November 1, 2013, the Veteran's asthma is not shown to have been productive of an FEV-1 of 56-70 percent predicted, an FEV-1/FVC of 56-70 percent, or to require daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy.,The Veteran's hemorrhoids are not shown to have been productive of persistent bleeding and with secondary anemia, or fissures.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and hemorrhoids have been denied. The Board finds that further development is necessary to address the Veteran's complaints of flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Veteran's intermittent and reducible hemorrhoids are treated with medication. The criteria for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids are not met.

The Veteran is denied an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids prior to November 1, 2009 and a rating in excess of 20 percent on and after that date. The maximum disability rating available under the applicable diagnostic code (Diagnostic Code 7336) has been assigned.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the propriety of the severance of service connection for coronary artery disease, effective June 1, 2011.,Prior to October 30, 2007, there is no evidence that the Veteran's symptoms included anal leakage or involuntary bowel movements. From October 30, 2007 to September 14, 2008, the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran experienced extensive anal leakage and fairly frequent involuntary bowel movements.,From September 15, 2008 to December 11, 2011, the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated extensive anal leakage and fairly frequent involuntary bowel movements. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran experienced a complete loss of sphincter control prior to December 12, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, sleep apnea, low back strain, left knee strain, right knee medial meniscus tear, tinnitus, hypertension, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating have been withdrawn. The Board has also determined that the Veteran is entitled to a 40 percent disability rating for his urethra stricture, chronic urethritis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him incapable of obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU from November 18, 2010.