Hemorrhoids decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for a sinus disability diagnosed as chronic sinusitis. The claims for left wrist, right knee, and hemorrhoids disabilities have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder NOS has rendered her unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU rating.,Further development is needed for the claims of service connection for exophoria and bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of various disabilities due to incomplete or insufficient evidence, including lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a bowel disorder, and hemorrhoids due to incomplete development of records and failure to notify the Veteran of an upcoming VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death. The issues include service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death and service-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support higher evaluations for his left knee disability, arthritis with limitation of motion, or hemorrhoids. The Veteran was granted TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status, as his nonservice-connected dementia was the primary cause of his need for assistance.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and evaluations in excess of certain percentages for various conditions, as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. However, the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is reopened due to new evidence showing a link between his service-connected sinusitis and his headaches. The claims for higher ratings for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, rhinitis, hemorrhoids, appendectomy residuals, scar of the right middle finger, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is denied because his vision loss, which requires regular assistance from a caregiver, is not related to any service-connected disability. The Board found that the Veteran's functional restrictions are due to his non-service connected blindness.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's esophageal cancer, which contributed to his death. The examiner is required to provide opinions on whether each service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to death and if it aided in the production of death.

The Board has granted service connection for a digestive condition (irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, chronic constipation, and hemorrhoids) and a hernia. The rating for the right finger fracture and right wrist sprain remains remanded.

The Board previously determined that a compensable rating for hemorrhoids was not warranted and the Veteran withdrew his claim for TDIU. As these issues were already decided, they are now dismissed.

The Veteran's initial ratings for post-operative scars of the abdomen, residuals of cholecystectomy, hemorrhoids, and adjustment disorder with anxiety are being remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including arrhythmia, right ear hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, cognitive disorder, left ear hearing loss, IBS with GERD, hemorrhoids, and migraines. The claims are being remanded to allow further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including a chronic back condition, hypertension, diverticulitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal polyps, hemorrhoids, constipation, urinary retention, and anemia. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of onset in service or relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and hemorrhoids. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's surviving spouse was granted SMC at the (l) level based on his need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, with all reasonable doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.