Hemorrhoids decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete or conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed penile disability, bowel disability, and hemorrhoids. The cases are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional action.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status or need for regular aid and attendance prior to December 14, 2019 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless that he required regular assistance.

The Board has dismissed the issues of seborrheic dermatitis and infertility due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance, as his need for regular aid and assistance is due to non-service-connected conditions. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because he has sufficient combined rating from service-connected disabilities (60% for varicose veins of the right lower extremity and 40% for varicose veins of the left lower extremity) that do not meet the requirement for a TDIU based on unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and a need for new etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's internal hemorrhoids.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and hemorrhoid disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The claims are now pending on their merits.,Service connection for a chronic sinus disability is denied as there is no probative medical evidence indicating the Veteran has a current sinus disability that was incurred in service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back condition, dizziness, headaches, and hemorrhoids are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA is required to assist the Veteran in obtaining his military personnel records and medical records to substantiate his claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of hypotension and urinary tract infection, as well as an increased rating for hemorrhoids, have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are being remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lichen planus and hemorrhoids due to inadequate examinations. Further evaluations are needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted with a 10% rating. The claim of service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, but the Board finds that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen this claim. Service connection for deviated septum, sleep apnea, and hemorrhoids are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions have been dismissed. The Veteran withdrew her appeal of the denial of higher ratings for right knee limited motion, left knee limited motion, right knee instability, for a scar of the right knee, and for allergic rhinitis.,Her request for an effective date earlier than February 26, 2020 for the 10 percent rating previously assigned for allergic rhinitis was also dismissed. The Veteran's appeal for increased PTSD to 70 percent has been granted.

The Veteran's initial 20 percent rating for lumbar strain is granted, and his increased rating for hemorrhoids is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to lack of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hemorrhoids and Sleep Apnea Syndromes (including Obstructive, Central, Mixed) have been granted. The Board found that the current conditions are related to in-service diagnoses and risk factors.

The Veteran's residuals of right wrist ganglion cyst were granted service connection as it was caused by an in-service right wrist ganglion cyst.,Service connection for a right ankle disability was denied due to the periodic flare ups not being causally related to active duty service.,Service connection for hemorrhoids was denied as there is no current evidence of a disability or impairment associated with them.,The left elbow condition was denied as it did not onset during his active duty service and there were no symptoms reported after separation.,Bilateral hearing loss was denied due to the absence of a current diagnosis meeting VA criteria for a disability.,Service connection for a scar from left inguinal hernia repair was denied as there is no evidence of such a condition.,Right foot condition, including plantar fasciitis, was remanded as further examination and opinion are needed.,Cervical spine condition and high blood pressure were also remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, and lumbosacral strain has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.,The Veteran's appeal for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and an acquired psychiatric disorder has also been remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids are granted as they were caused by medications prescribed for his other disabilities.,Service connection is granted for photophobia, which the examiner attributed to the Veteran's right eye corneal scarring.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids and his TDIU claim were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hemorrhoids, and there was insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a separate rating of 10 percent for a painful right-hand scar from February 1, 2011, to his death in November 2021. Other issues were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected hemorrhoids, finding that his symptoms have not manifested as more than mild or moderate.