Hemorrhoids Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for hemorrhoids and GERD have been dismissed. The appeal for tinnitus has been partially granted with a 10% rating prior to February 27, 2018, but denied thereafter. Appeals for wrist disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, and cervical spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the service connection for left wrist, right wrist, left hip, right hip, and hemorrhoids disabilities, as well as the compensable rating for a deviated septum.

The Board has decided that a new examination is needed due to the passage of time since the last VA examination and evidence of worsening symptoms, and updated treatment records are requested.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Traumatic Brain Injury, Lumbar Spine Disability, and Hemorrhoids due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations to determine if her conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanded the claim of service connection for hemorrhoids due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, as the Veteran's continuous reporting of ringing in his ears since service supports a finding that it began during active duty. Service connection is denied for hemorrhoids and headaches (migraines), as there is no evidence showing they were caused by or related to service.,Service connection was not established for hemorrhoids because the condition existed prior to service, with documentation of treatment in 1987 before the Veteran's enlistment. The current condition is considered a natural progression beyond what would be expected from pre-existing conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's prostate condition and keloids are not related to his military service, but other conditions such as sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, cardiovascular signs and symptoms, acquired left eye condition, and fatigue remain under consideration due to their potential connection with service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to October 3, 2008 and a rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter for bilateral plantar fasciitis due to incomplete information from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are characterized by persistent bleeding, which meets the criteria for a 20% evaluation. The Board granted this rating based on the totality of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability was reopened. The VA granted a separate 10 percent rating for painful extension of the left knee from November 7, 2017, and granted an initial rating of 10 percent for blepharitis and dry eye syndrome. Other claims were either denied or remanded.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, tinnitus, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, left sciatic radiculopathy, reactive airway disease, a right knee baker's cyst, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, left inguinal herniorrhaphy, and chronic maxillary sinusitis. The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for eligibility to individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right lateral/medial epicondylitis and hyperlipidemia was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection for PTSD, thoracolumbar spine IVDS and degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle sprain, cervical spine strain, right shoulder sprain, right shin splints, left shin splints, hemorrhoids, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied. The Veteran's PTSD disability rating prior to September 27, 2012 was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected hemorrhoids prior to October 17, 2016, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating during any period on appeal.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the cause of death (chronic aspiration pneumonia, altered mental state, new onset seizure disorder) is not related to VA care or treatment. The Board denied both claims for service connection for the cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances related to his service-connected conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the need for additional clothing allowances due to damage caused by his braces and topical medications.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his acquired psychiatric condition, hearing loss disability, tinnitus, thoracic/lumbar spine disability, shoulder and knee disabilities, pes planus, eye disabilities, migraine headaches, acid reflux, pseudofolliculitis (PFB), hemorrhoids, pulmonary conditions, including COPD, and Meniere’s disease. The Board has remanded these issues for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hemorrhoids, stress incontinence, and sleep apnea. The evidence did not establish that these conditions began during service or were related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of all extremities, an eye disorder, hemorrhoids, and a prostate disorder as secondary to herbicide exposure. The claims were remanded for further examination regarding cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and hemorrhoids are remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The effective date issue is not addressed as it pertains to a different claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, hemorrhoids, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being reviewed.