Hemorrhoids — all decisions

The Board has denied service connection for hemorrhoids, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The COPD and sleep apnea claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, requesting an addendum opinion from the September 2019 VA examiner regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability during the pendency of the appeal, and readjudicating the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids were granted a 10% disability rating for the period prior to November 3, 2019 and a 10% disability rating thereafter.,The Veteran's residuals of frostbite of the right foot were granted a 30% disability rating for the period prior to November 3, 2019 and a 30% disability rating thereafter. The Veteran's residuals of frostbite of the left foot were also granted a 30% disability rating for the same periods.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied an increased disability rating prior to November 21, 2019 but granted a 30% disability rating since that date.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids prior to December 9, 2019. The Veteran is required to undergo further examination regarding his claimed stressor and any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions have been denied. The Board finds that there is no current evidence of a disability in any of the claimed conditions, and thus cannot grant the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and reduction of the rating for rhinitis were denied. The Board found that his anxiety disorder, sinusitis, rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, appendectomy scar, right middle finger scar, and TDIU claims did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional medical records from his Air Force Reserve service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including a lack of records search for Agent Orange exposure in Korea and SSA disability benefits records.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for PTSD, a left shoulder disability, and hemorrhoids due to outstanding VA treatment records. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and hypertension due to new and material evidence. The claims are granted as all elements of service connection have been met.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, a mental disorder, and various musculoskeletal conditions. However, these claims have been denied as there is no evidence to support the presence or causation of any of these conditions during service.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD, migraine headaches, and hemorrhoids have been granted initial ratings of 10%, 50%, and 20% respectively from July 1, 2011. The thoracolumbar spine strain has been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hemorrhoids, right knee disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and cervical spine disability.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are rated at 20 percent since July 28, 2011. The effective date is set to the date of his increased rating claim.

The Veteran is granted an initial 60 percent rating for impairment of rectal sphincter control associated with internal hemorrhoids, effective November 18, 2010. The Veteran's internal hemorrhoids are not rated higher as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability (PTSD) is granted as service-connected. The skin, hemorrhoids, and undiagnosed illness claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its remand instructions and thus the appeals are being returned to the AOJ for further development.