Hemorrhoids decisions — 2015

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for internal hemorrhoids and a higher rating for PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Meniere's disease, coronary artery disease, lumbar strain, duodenal ulcer, chronic rhinitis, hemorrhoids, radiculopathy of the right leg, and residual scarring, render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing to address all four issues, including the increased rating for IBS with recurrent colon polyps and service connection for digestive disability (other than IBS), claimed as peptic ulcer disease.

The Veteran meets the threshold requirements for TDIU due to a single service-connected disability rated at 40 percent or more and a combined rating of 70 percent or higher. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, including depression, left knee disability, low back disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and left ankle and hemorrhoids.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a fistula in ano and/or impairment of sphincter control associated with his internal and external hemorrhoids with history of anal fissure, as evidenced by the lack of medical findings supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board or videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material to reopen claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) and hemorrhoids. The Veteran's current medical records do not show a diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as to schedule the Veteran for a VA audiology and psychiatric examination. The claims will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's increased disability rating for DJD of the low back was granted, and a separate compensable disability rating for post operative residuals of hemorrhoidectomies with anal stricture was also granted. The Board found that referral for an extraschedular rating was not warranted.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, and anal fissure, is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and an opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling new VA examinations, and issuing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed, and thus the claims for an increased evaluation for hemorrhoids and service connection for diabetes are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected hemorrhoids, as well as whether he has a current diagnosis of hypertension that may be related to his service or service-connected conditions. The case will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board found that the additional evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of establishing service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, and thus denied the reopening of the claim.

From July 28, 2008 to June 10, 2009, the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability was rated at 20 percent.,As of June 10, 2009, the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluations for service-connected hemorrhoids and right knee strain have been granted, with the hemorrhoids rated at 10 percent effective February 19, 2014.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids and a separate compensable rating for impairment of sphincter control. The Veteran's bilateral foot disability was also found not to warrant a higher rating prior to June 2, 2014, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.