Hemorrhoids decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to February 6, 2009 and also denied an extraschedular TDIU. The evidence did not establish that the Veteran was unable to find and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and residuals of hemorrhoidectomy have been granted service connection. The remaining issues on appeal (erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, peripheral neuropathy) are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's rectal disability, including hemorrhoids, hematochezia and anal fissures, was diagnosed in service and has recurred since service. Service connection is granted for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and hypertension, as well as an increased rating for major depressive disorder, were granted. The claim for service connection for hemorrhoids was denied due to lack of current diagnosis. A 10 percent initial rating was granted for hypertension. Major depressive disorder remains at a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for somatization disorder is granted, with a current rating of 70 percent. The issue of service connection for psychiatric disorders other than somatization disorder has been reopened and remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids. The Veteran was not granted service connection for her claimed psychiatric condition, as there is no evidence that she has a distinct diagnosis of major depressive disorder separate from her already service-connected PTSD. For her hemorrhoids, the Board found that the symptoms were mild or moderate and did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the March 2017 decision denying service connection for a heart disorder, a compensable rating for hemorrhoids, and determining there was no CUE in a May 1993 rating decision is vacated due to procedural errors. The appeal of whether CUE occurred in the May 1993 rating decision is deemed abandoned by the Court. The March 2017 Board decision is hereby vacated as to the CUE issue due to the due process violation. The claims for service connection for a heart disorder, an initial compensable rating for cervical spine disability prior to September 6, 2006, and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hemorrhoids are related to his service-connected gastrointestinal disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, as well as new opinions regarding the etiology of her bruxism, GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has found that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, kidney disability, and hemorrhoids.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for hemorrhoids and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a current disability of either condition, nor could it be linked to service.

The Veteran's claims for nose bleeds, tremors, and migraine headaches were denied. The claim for hemorrhoids was granted with an effective date of January 27, 2014. The claim for migraine headaches was also granted but with a different effective date.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death prior to the issuance of an appellate decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sickle cell trait was denied due to lack of a current disability. The claims for color blindness, heart condition, and COPD were not established as they are congenital or developmental defects.,Service connection has been granted for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, hypertension, gout of both feet, intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbago, binocular visual field defect, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids, which have been service-connected, are now rated at 20 percent due to persistent bleeding and rectal fissures.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder, status post right lumbar surgery with post voiding leakage, and other service-connected conditions are all denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as the evidence does not show any current disabilities related to active service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The other conditions are denied.