Hemorrhoids decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate etiology opinions and potential outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral knee disability. Service connection is denied for hemorrhoids.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for internal hemorrhoids, as they are related to his service-connected diverticulosis. The case is being returned due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and the need for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted an initial increased rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's hemorrhoids prior to July 28, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for hemorrhoids, claiming bowel obstruction or bleeding, due to the lack of evidence showing a relationship between current symptoms and service. The Veteran's complaints during service were not related to hemorrhoids.,Service connection was also denied for a right knee disability as there is no credible evidence that the condition began in service or is otherwise linked to an injury or disease during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for colon polyps (claimed as hemorrhoids) and toenail fungus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus to service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and clarification of the Veteran's service connection for gastrointestinal disorders, including chronic diverticulitis, colonic polyps, and hemorrhoids. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions and need for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for fecal incontinence/poor sphincter control, which is currently secondary to his service-connected hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of umbilical hernia scar, bursitis, and hemorrhoids have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development in relation to his claims for higher ratings for restless leg syndrome and radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The VA must obtain all relevant treatment records, clarify the rating criteria used in previous decisions, and consider whether restless leg syndrome should be rated under a different diagnostic code.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right eye disability (glaucoma), left eye disability (glaucoma), respiratory disability (asthma), chronic disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, hemorrhoids, leukemia, and high cholesterol. The decision also remanded service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back condition, hemorrhoids, and sciatica due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's lay testimony will be considered in determining the etiology of his conditions.

The Board dismissed the claims for SMC based on aid and attendance due to a full grant of benefits in October 2022. The claim for SMC based on housebound status was denied as the Veteran did not meet the statutory requirement of having a single service-connected disability rated at 100% disabling.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, right hand disorder, and left/right foot disorders have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The right hand disorder is being remanded for a VA examination.,Service connection has not been established for hemorrhoids.

The Board has remanded the cases of hemorrhoids and hernia for additional development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected status-post hemorrhoidectomy, fistulectomy, and sphincterotomy residuals is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of his symptoms. The appeal for TDIU remains part of this claim.

The appeal for an increased evaluation of the Veteran's unspecified psychotic disorder is dismissed. The Veteran was granted TDIU on a substitution basis due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss, lung disorder, hemorrhoids, right ear hearing loss, bowel disorder, testicle disorder, sinus disorder, back disorder, skin disorder of the feet and body, eye disorder, teeth disorder, and brain lesions were denied as there was no evidence to support these conditions or their service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's colon adenomas, which are claimed as a result of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.