Hemorrhoids Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to enable the RO to issue a Statement of the Case for issues related to service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities.

The Veteran's total and permanent disability rating due to service-connected disabilities, including his chronic cardiac disability affecting balance or propulsion, meets the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of specially adapted housing.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not presented such an exceptional or unusual disability picture with such related factors as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards. Therefore, referral for extraschedular consideration is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have any service-connected disabilities, and therefore, her claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and reopened the claim for sinus disability. The effective date of service connection for hemorrhoids is established as the date of receipt of her claim, November 2014. The motion alleging clear and unmistakable error in the October 1995 rating decision regarding low back disability is accepted.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any current or chronic conditions related to the issues on appeal. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as he did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for Hemorrhoids was also denied as there is no lay or medical evidence demonstrating a diagnosis of hemorrhoids or residuals thereof during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of her claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the service connection claim.

The Board found no evidence of hemorrhoids during service and denied the Veteran's claims for arthritis, left knee pain, plantar bone spurs, right thumb disability, and little finger or third finger disability. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and found that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service diagnosis. The claims of entitlement to service connection for rectal cancer and colon polyps are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease has been granted, with the effective date being August 1, 2010. The issue of an initial compensable rating for service-connected hemorrhoids is also addressed and resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hemorrhoids do not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule. The symptoms are considered mild to moderate, and no additional symptoms attributable to other service-connected disabilities have been identified.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of hemorrhoids or right foot plantar wart disabilities for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran needs additional examinations and remands for his claims due to inadequate examination reports in the previous rating decisions. The appeals are now REMANDED.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied as the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) were not met prior to June 14, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence and TDIU were denied, as the claim for a temporary total evaluation was not timely filed. The July 2007 rating decision assigning a 10 percent disability rating for his back disability was found to be correct in both fact and law.

The Veteran's back disability is found to be service-connected. The claim for sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence that it began in service or is related to service. The issue of a compensable rating for hemorrhoids has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids was denied, and his earlier effective date claim for additional compensation benefits for a dependent spouse is pending.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids was granted prior to April 19, 2013. From that date until the present, he is entitled to a 10 percent evaluation.