Hemorrhoids Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including panic disorder and stress urinary incontinence, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issue on appeal, including a more contemporaneous VA examination for the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids and obtaining private treatment records from Dr. A.D.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA Vocational Rehabilitation file and scheduling him for an examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hemorrhoids do not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code. The symptoms described are consistent with a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate evidence regarding the Veteran's left ankle disability and new issues involving hemorrhoids, colon cancer, enlarged prostate, Graves' disease, and pulmonary sarcoidosis. The Veteran will be provided with a Statement of the Case for these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting hemorrhoids were not aggravated by active service, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for this condition.,VA examination revealed no chronic left elbow disability related to active service. The examiner concluded that the current left elbow disability was not connected to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling records. Additionally, new examinations are needed for his bilateral knee disabilities, inguinal hernia residuals, kidney stone residuals, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are large and result in persistent bleeding, frequent recurrences, and excessive redundant tissue. The current rating under the applicable diagnostic code adequately reflects these findings.

The Board found that the cause of death, septic shock due to positive blood culture for staphylococcus, was not causally or etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not substantially or materially contribute to the cause of his death.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's stomach disability, including whether it is related to service and any other conditions. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran died of septic shock, but the service-connected back disability and other conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The Board finds no evidence linking these conditions to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids have been rated at 10 percent since the rating period on appeal. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7336, as they did not result in persistent bleeding with secondary anemia or fissures.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoids) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 25, 2008.

From July 10, 2002 to March 8, 2012, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment.,As of March 9, 2012, the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot due to the Veteran receiving a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were not rated higher than the current 30 percent assigned.,His left foot bunion with pes planus was rated at 30 percent prior to August 14, 2015 and his bilateral flat feet are currently rated at 30 percent from that date.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to earlier effective dates for TDIU, DEA, and PTSD. The RO granted these benefits on April 4, 2011.

The Veteran meets the schedular percentage requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As such, the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and service connection claims. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral bone spurs has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran currently has an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, which is related to his service.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted as new and material evidence has been received showing a possible relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.