Hemorrhoids decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, gastritis, pancreatitis, inguinal hernia, and hemorrhoids. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability. The issues of service connection for a back disability, initial ratings for keloid scars of the neck and ear, and hemorrhoids are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for readjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, tinea pedis, and hemorrhoids on a direct basis. The Veteran's hypertension was not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period, did not manifest to a compensable degree within a presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids are currently rated as non-compensable. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the severity of his condition and determine if he meets the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hemorrhoids, back disability, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, and left carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from February 16, 2016, to September 10, 2017. The TDIU is granted during this period and the appeal for a temporary total evaluation due to hernia repair is remanded.

The Veteran's tuberculosis claim was denied. The rating for hemorrhoids has been granted at a 20% level effective April 29, 2019. Migraine headaches have been granted with a 30% rating. PTSD has been granted with a 50% rating. Other issues remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip condition, left hip condition, irritable bowel syndrome, and hemorrhoids due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and duodenal ulcer with antral gastritis, as well as his claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD and PTSD), are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. His TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for hemorrhoids and service connection for fecal incontinence are remanded due to the alleged refusal of a rectal examination. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded as it is intertwined with the issues of service connection for fecal incontinence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's abdominal conditions and their relationship to service. The VA examiner was requested to provide a more detailed opinion on whether the Veteran's current symptoms are related to her service, as well as whether her major depressive disorder may have caused or aggravated her abdominal conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural error in issuing a decision for the earlier effective date claim. The AOJ needs to issue a higher-level review decision addressing the claim of entitlement to an effective date prior to August 5, 2015 for the grant of service connection for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted for prolapsed hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, gastrointestinal disability, and joint disability. The claims are now pending on their merits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his left ankle, left wrist, and hemorrhoids disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and a right knee disorder due to incomplete service treatment records, lack of VA medical opinions addressing the etiology of his conditions, and need for additional SSA records.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of claim. The right and left knee DJD with retropatellar arthralgia are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hemorrhoids are related to her military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.