Hemorrhoids decisions — 2023

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as incurred in service.,Other claims for service connection are either remanded or reopened.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for various disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if VA followed proper procedures in scheduling his examinations, which could affect the assigned effective dates.

The Veteran's IBS with GERD and sliding hiatal hernia is granted a 30 percent rating, but no higher, beginning October 2, 2017. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are not rated compensable.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC based on aid and attendance are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disorder separate from OSA, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining issues of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and hemorrhoids are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids, finding that there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's epidermal cysts on back with scars have been granted a 30 percent disability rating. The issue of service connection for impairment of sphincter control, secondary to hemorrhoids is remanded due to lack of an addendum medical opinion and the need for VA examination records.

The Board denied an effective date prior to February 17, 2017, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the appeals are remanded for further development and rating actions.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death because the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his fatal motor vehicle accident.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, hemorrhoids, migraines, and sleep apnea. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess the Veteran's conditions. The claims of service connection for tinnitus, increased ratings for gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, and a skin disability are pending.

The Board has granted reimbursement for the medical expenses incurred by the Veteran at Carthage Area Hospital on September 9, 2008, to September 10, 2008, due to his service-connected conditions and the emergency nature of his syncopal episodes.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot condition. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral tinea pedis, cervical spine condition, hypertension, headaches, hemorrhoids, OSA, sciatica of the right and left lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were remanded but not fully resolved.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, functional bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction (secondary to service-connected disability), and acid reflux have been partially granted. The claim for hypertension was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Claims for higher ratings for functional bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids were denied as they do not meet the schedular criteria. Service connection for tinnitus and acid reflux has been established, but erectile dysfunction secondary to service-connected disability remains unresolved.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted service connection as a presumptive condition related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The issue of service connection for hemorrhoids, including as due to exposure to environmental hazards and secondary to service-connected disability, is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was granted. The Veteran's tinea pedis bilateral feet with onychomycosis and erythema annulare was increased to a 10 percent rating, effective April 7, 2017. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were not increased in rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for regular aid and attendance.