Hemorrhoids Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right wrist fracture and for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids are denied as there is no evidence to support higher ratings under applicable VA regulations.

The veteran's service-connected malignant melanoma and hemorrhoids were both granted, with the melanoma receiving a 10% rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service treatment records and to determine if there are any line of duty determinations or active duty for training/inactive duty for training records from his reserve service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids have not been compensably disabling at any time since March 3, 2005. Therefore, an initial higher (compensable) rating for hemorrhoids is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, effective dates, and other issues. The decisions were generally unfavorable to the veteran.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hemorrhoids, finding that the conditions were not related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a 10% evaluation for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disk and joint disease, as well as his claim for a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids. The issue of service connection for residuals of pneumonia (also claimed as pleurisy and residuals of blood clot) was also addressed but the veteran did not pursue this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus. The veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is not supported by the medical evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar back disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent from December 29, 2000 to September 26, 2003 and denied her claim. The Board also found no evidence of a compensable rating for her hemorrhoids.

The VA determined that the veteran's hemorrhoids with associated anemia did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation, as his hemoglobin levels were consistently above 7 gm/100ml and he did not exhibit severe symptoms such as dyspnea on mild exertion or high output congestive heart failure.

The veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 60%, which does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board finds that the appellant's service-connected hemorrhoids do not warrant a compensable disability rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder/PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling, has prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his psychiatric disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a frozen left shoulder before the Board could make a decision. The case is now ready to be dismissed.

The veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings for sinusitis, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and a scar resulting from excision of a left axillary mass were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for any compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy was denied.,Service connection for residuals of a left ankle sprain was granted with an effective date of March 18, 2002. The veteran requested an earlier effective date but the appeal is not on this issue.,The veteran's claim to reopen service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids do not warrant a compensable disability rating, and his claim for secondary service connection for nausea is denied.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and impairment of sphincter control was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's request for a video conference hearing before the Board has been granted, and his case is now remanded to the RO.