Citation Nr: 20021760
Decision Date: 03/26/20	Archive Date: 03/26/20

DOCKET NO. 18-31 200
DATE: March 26, 2020

REMANDED

Service connection for an anal disability, to include fissure and fistula, is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active service in the U.S. Marine Corps from May 2006 to May 2007.  This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2018 rating decision.  The Veteran testified at a Board hearing in February 2020.

Service connection for an anal disability, to include fissure and fistula, is remanded.

The issue of whether the Veteran’s anal disability is secondary to his service-conencted hemorrhoids has been raised by the record.  The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on that issue.  While VA opinions addressed whether hemorrhoids caused an additional anal disability, no VA examiner has opined whether hemorrhoids aggravated such a disability.  A supplemental opinion is required.

 

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran’s anal fissure and anal fistula are at least as likely as not aggravated beyond their natural progression by service-connected hemorrhoids.

 

 

JOHN Z. JONES

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Shamil Patel, Counsel

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.