Hemorrhoids decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and medical opinions regarding his hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his combined disability rating is only 70 percent, which does not meet the requirement of at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more with a combined rating of 70 percent or more. The Board finds that the Veteran is not unemployable solely due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's ruptured tendons, hemorrhoids, and right wrist CTS. The rating of 10 percent for right elbow tendonitis remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unemployable prior to February 29, 2008. Since then, she has had a combined schedular disability rating of 100 percent and is contending that she is unemployable due to the combination of these same service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the Veteran's claims, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's left hand disability and hemorrhoids have been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board has determined that a compensable rating is warranted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic sinus disorder, headache disorder, or constipation and hemorrhoids related to service. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has decided that the case needs to be returned for additional development due to insufficient examination and treatment records, particularly regarding the Veteran's diagnosis of normocytic anemia and persistent rectal bleeding.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, meralgia paresthetica (right leg sciatica), and hemorrhoids do not meet the threshold criteria for a TDIU. The claim is denied as the evidence does not support that his service-connected conditions alone prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right testicular/groin disability, right leg disability, or lumbosacral spine disability. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's thoracic and lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum allowable rating under the diagnostic criteria. The cervical spine disability is also rated at 10 percent. No other conditions have been granted increased ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD was adequately addressed by the rating schedule and did not meet the criteria for an extraschedular evaluation. The Veteran's TDIU claim on an extra-schedular basis prior to January 19, 2010 was also denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder rotator cuff strain and associated conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 2, 2009. Effective July 1, 2011, the Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The claim of service connection for hemorrhoids was reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia, gastric ulcer, and gastritis is currently rated at 30 percent. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran has separate disabilities involving anal laxity and hemorrhoids. The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for anal laxity under Diagnostic Code 7332, but denied the request for a separate rating for hemorrhoids as they are already rated together.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The case is being remanded for additional examinations and development to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disabilities, as well as the existence and etiology of his left and right knee symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability is related to active service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for hemorrhoids remains pending.