Hemorrhoids Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension, which was rated at 100% disabling from June 9, 1997 and reduced to 60% in August 1, 1998 due to reduction in service-connected disability rating, allowed the appellant to receive special monthly compensation based on additional independent 100 percent disability for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a compensable rating of 10 percent for COPD prior to January 21, 2002. The claims for tinnitus, sinusitis, hemorrhoids, and allergic rhinitis were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury. The claims for stomach disorder and hemorrhoids were denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing an etiological relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of various service-connected conditions were denied by the Board. The cardiovascular-renal disease with hypertension was not rated higher than 30 percent prior to January 12, 1998 and from January 12, 1998 onwards it was rated as no more than Class II consistent with 4 to 5 METs and left ventricular dysfunction. The hiatal hernia was rated as noncompensable before August 1, 2000 and compensable after that date. The right ear otitis externa was not rated higher than noncompensable. Conjunctivitis was inactive and hemorrhoids were not rated higher than noncompensable. The residuals of a fracture of the right fifth metacarpal (Major) were healed and without any objectively demonstrated functional loss.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including right knee degenerative arthritis, cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative joint disease, tension headaches, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and alcohol dependence, do not render him unemployable due to his back and neck problems. His combined evaluation is 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected conditions have been granted, with the highest rating of 20 percent assigned for his left shoulder disability.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a compensable rating for his hemorrhoids. The claims of service connection for headaches, joint stiffness, prostatism, and residuals of left ankle and foot injury were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions began during service or are causally linked to any incident of active duty.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to his left foot and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for postoperative hemorrhoids.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed hemorrhoids were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic knee disability or hemorrhoids in service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a compensable initial evaluation for postoperative residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible level, and his bilateral foot disability and hemorrhoids are each rated appropriately based on their severity.

The Board found that the appellant's heart disease, including myocardial infarction with coronary artery bypass grafts and chest pain; postoperative residuals of a colon disorder, including diverticulitis; and hemorrhoids and rectal bleeding resulting from January-February 1989 VA abdominal surgeries are not causally or etiologically related to the surgeries in question.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities for right wrist, bilateral shin splints, hemorrhoids, right elbow disability, or pseudofolliculitis barbae. Therefore, service connection is denied for all issues on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities and hemorrhoids, finding that the conditions did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The RO denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, as they determined he was not unemployable.

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to reopen her claims for service connection for hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and fibrocystic breast disease due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hemorrhoids are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.