Hemorrhoids decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease, recurring skin lesions, and hemorrhoids. The issues are also inextricably intertwined with the issue of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and denied service connection for pilonidal cysts. The decision on the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the claims of service connection for various conditions, including hemorrhoids, lumbar herniated disc, bilateral cataracts, left and right sciatic nerve paralysis, cervical herniated disc, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (e.g., PTSD, Anxiety, Depression), GERD, hemorrhoids, hypertension, left ankle, right ankle, left elbow, left shoulder, left wrist, right wrist, and sciatic nerve disorders affecting both lower extremities are all service-connected.

The Board denied a compensable initial rating for the Veteran's hemorrhoids, finding that the condition is only mild or moderate and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevented him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful course of employment since August 14, 2009. The Board granted TDIU with an effective date of August 14, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, effective June 24, 2012.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for hemorrhoids is being remanded due to the discrepancy in assessing his internal hemorrhoids during the November 2017 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated medical records. Issues include internal hemorrhoids, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for subtotal colectomy, deep thrombosis hemorrhoids, and anal fissures. However, further medical opinions are needed before a decision can be made on these reopened claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for heart disability, back disability, neck disability, sciatic nerve conditions in buttocks (left and right lower extremities), lower leg disabilities (left and right lower extremities), upper extremity disabilities (left and right upper extremities), and hemorrhoids due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are granted a compensable rating of 20 percent. The Veteran's mitral valve regurgitation is denied as her condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his migraine headaches and whether he requires aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and hemorrhoids, finding that there was no evidence of continuous or recurrent symptoms since separation from active service. The Veteran's assertions of symptomatology during or after service were not supported by contemporaneous medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and hemorrhoids. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, a bilateral eye condition secondary to diabetes, anemia, and denied service connection for diverticulitis and hemorrhoids. The Veteran's knee disability is found to have caused or aggravated her obesity, which led to her diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a prostate disability and an anal disability due to exposure to diesel fuel and/or paint thinner during service. Additional development is needed, including obtaining medical opinions on whether these conditions are causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids but remanded the issue of service connection for rectal bleeding due to unclear etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 3, 2012.

The Board has remanded the cases of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and effective date prior to October 1, 2017 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits due to inextricably intertwined issues.