The veteran's internal hemorrhoids, vasomotor rhinitis, and diastasis of the umbilicus muscles were rated at 0 percent. Service connection for breathing problems due to an undiagnosed illness was denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating for the veteran's conditions as they were found to be mild or non-existent in nature, and service connection for breathing problems could not be established given the lack of objective evidence linking them to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- internal hemorrhoids, vasomotor rhinitis, diastasis of the umbilicus muscles (claimed as umbilical hernia), breathing problems due to an undiagnosed illness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2008
- Citation
- 0810853
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's attorney withdrew the appeal for all issues, including service connection for chills and evaluations for various conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for a new VA examination to determine the relationship between the reported loss of bladder and bowel sphincter control and the service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder strains with various conditions were denied. The claim for a compensable rating for internal hemorrhoids was also denied. However, the claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, so he is granted Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
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