Hemorrhoids decisions — 2023

The Veteran's SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance/housebound status or at a higher level is granted from April 16, 2021. Additionally, he meets the requirements for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o).

The Veteran's back disability, left knee degenerative joint disease, hemorrhoids, and tension headaches are all being remanded for further evaluation due to changes in their severity since the last VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis of the hips, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic constipation (claimed as IBS), hemorrhoids, and diverticulosis (claimed as IBS) due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran does not have CFS, fibromyalgia, or IBS.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be proximately due to his service-connected hemorrhoids and thus granted secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hemorrhoid disability, which may be related to his service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has denied service connection for hemorrhoids and cervical strain as there is no current disability, and the evidence does not show a neck injury or event during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, hemorrhoids (including anal fissures), lumbar spine DJD and DDD, and left lower extremity neuralgia. The decision found that the pre-existing left knee disability did not increase in severity beyond its natural progression during active service, and there was no evidence of hemorrhoids or anal fissures during service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for calluses on the bilateral foot and hemorrhoids, but denied them both on their merits. The claim for calluses on the bilateral foot was previously denied due to lack of evidence in service, while the claim for hemorrhoids was reopened based on new evidence showing current treatment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions. The claims will be reviewed with new medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's relapsing polychondritis and hemorrhoids are related to his service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 28, 2017 have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral conjunctivitis has been remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating percent for service-connected right thigh lipoma has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids. The cases of a skin disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board has withdrawn the issue of service connection for a bilateral eye condition due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The issues of service connection for left knee, bilateral foot, and hemorrhoids conditions secondary to service-connected disabilities have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for pruritis is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination used in the initial decision.

The appeal of the January 2023 rating decision denial for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hemorrhoids, and COPD is dismissed. The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as panic disorder). The hemorrhoids are found to have had their onset during service. The psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to technical issues at a personal hearing and VA's duty to provide examinations in response to the Veteran's exposure claims.