The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the VA examiner provided medical opinions that the claimed disabilities are not related to service.
The deciding factor: VA examiners determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and left knee disabilities are not related to service due to lack of continuity of symptoms and age-related arthritis. The loss of smell claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability at the time of filing or during the pendency of the appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Hemorrhoids, Bilateral Shoulder Disability (including residuals of cold injury and arthritis), Left Knee Disability (including residuals of cold injury and arthritis), Loss of Smell, Residuals of Chemical Burns on the Fingertips
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 27, 2016
- Citation
- 1616822
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1616822.
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 withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of his hemorrhoids, so the case is dismissed.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for her service-connected hemorrhoids was denied as the evidence did not show large or thrombotic, irreducible hemorrhoids with excessive redundant tissue, evidencing frequent recurrence.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted, with some issues being granted through all appellate periods. The RO has also confirmed the evaluations and effective dates from previous decisions.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted higher levels of SMC and aid and attendance special monthly compensation effective May 3, 2024, due to his service-connected conditions that require regular aid and assistance.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.