Hemorrhoids decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a higher rating for his service-connected hemorrhoids has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, including those from VA treatment centers. The Veteran's right hand disability and hemorrhoids are at issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD substantially contributed to his death, as evidenced by the Veteran's dementia and other conditions listed on his death certificate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining employment history information and VA/SSA records. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disorder, lumbar spine disorder, hemorrhoids, and basal cell carcinoma are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship with his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including articulation disorder (hip), fatigue and low energy, hyperlipidemia, IBS, or diverticulitis. Therefore, his claims are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his hemorrhoids and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings prior to March 1, 2012, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability since that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids was denied as there is no current evidence of the condition and it is not related to his active duty service.

The case is being remanded to attempt to obtain SSA records and additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not currently decided.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for hypertension and service connection for hemorrhoids were denied. The RO also denied reopening the Veteran's claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists, finding no new and material evidence. No effective date was assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left forearm disorder, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions during his appeal period.

The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident (stroke) is being remanded for further examination and consideration due to the need for additional evidence and a new opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while impairing his ability to work, do not render him unemployable as a whole. The combined rating of 70% does not meet the threshold requirement for TDIU under section 4.16(a).

Service connection for hemorrhoids has been restored. The right knee disability and ulcers are not service-connected.,The appellant's right knee condition is denied as it does not appear to be related to his military service, including any injury sustained during active duty for training or inactive duty training.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic constipation with redundant colon, hemorrhoids, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The current evaluations are noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for the requested increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the provision of a retrospective medical opinion regarding his ability to work during the period from September 18, 2006 to March 23, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disability, chronic headaches, back disorder (including degenerative disc disease and sciatica), nail fungus of the hands and feet, sterility/erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and recurrent hemorrhoids are all connected to service. The appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for hemorrhoids and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for paranoid schizophrenia are pending.