Hemorrhoids Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as they are not large or thrombotic and irreducible with excessive redundant tissue or evidencing frequent recurrences.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an anorectal disorder other than hemorrhoids was denied as there is no current evidence of such a condition, and the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development, including the provision of an updated VA examination and readjudication.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's cervical spine disability, characterized as cervical spondylolisthesis or post-traumatic arthritis, is etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without showing good cause, and the claim is therefore adjudicated as denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his diabetes is secondary to in-service TB treatment with INH therapy.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrectomy and GERD are currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7308 for postgastrectomy syndromes.,The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids with anal fistula are currently rated at 30 percent. The RO has determined that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to a missing substantive appeal submitted on June 25, 2009. The Veteran is given an opportunity to submit his substantive appeal or provide additional information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, as well as for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and reopened the claim for service connection of hemorrhoids. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is presumed to have started in service, while his hemorrhoids are presumed to have worsened as a result of service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability evaluations for PTSD and hemorrhoids has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for either condition.

The Veteran's residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy are manifested by extensive leakage and fairly frequent involuntary bowel movements, warranting a 60 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as stress), and his claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The initial rating claim for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Veteran's overall disability rating is 80 percent, meeting the schedular standards for consideration of a TDIU. However, he does not meet the requirement of being unable to secure or follow substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities as he has been employed in managerial positions since at least November 1998 and can still perform some work duties despite his disabilities.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids have been rated at 20% since March 5, 2008 due to the presence of an anal fissure. His hypertension has not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hemorrhoids, dengue fever, or low back disorder that is due to any incident or event in active military service.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids, headaches, and arthritis of the right first metacarpal are rated as noncompensably disabling. The Veteran is granted initial compensable ratings for these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and assigned a noncompensable evaluation. The Veteran's claims of increased evaluations for hemorrhoids, an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for Type II diabetes mellitus, and service connection for right thigh sarcoma residuals were denied.