Here’s What You Need to Know

When you think of VA disability claims, hemorrhoids might not be the first condition that comes to mind—but they absolutely can be service-connected. Whether you developed them during active duty, they’re secondary to another service-connected condition like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or they’ve led to a mental health condition like depression, you may qualify for VA disability benefits.

What Are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectal or anal area that can cause:

Pain during bowel movements
Itching or irritation
Bleeding
Prolapse (tissue pushing outside the anal canal)
Discomfort when sitting or standing

Hemorrhoids can be internal or external, and chronic cases may require surgery or ongoing medical care.

How the VA Rates Hemorrhoids

The VA rates hemorrhoids under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7336. Here’s how the ratings work:

VA Rating	Criteria
0%	Mild or moderate internal or external hemorrhoids
10%	Large or thrombotic, irreducible hemorrhoids with excessive redundant tissue, evidencing frequent recurrences
20%	Hemorrhoids with persistent bleeding and secondary anemia, or with fissures

While these ratings may seem low, if your hemorrhoids affect your mental health or are linked to another service-connected condition, you may be entitled to additional compensation.

Direct Service Connection

If you were diagnosed with hemorrhoids during active duty and have continued to experience symptoms after discharge, you can claim them as a direct service-connected condition. To qualify, you need:

A current diagnosis of hemorrhoids
Medical evidence they began or were treated in service
Documentation showing continued symptoms or treatment after service

Secondary Service Connection (e.g., IBS)

Hemorrhoids can also be secondarily service-connected if they are caused or aggravated by another service-connected condition. One of the most common is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) — and a documented link to a service-connected GI condition is exactly what an IBS nexus letter establishes. Veterans with IBS often deal with:

Chronic constipation → straining during bowel movements
Diarrhea → repeated rectal irritation

Both of these can lead to the development or worsening of hemorrhoids. If you already have service-connected IBS and later develop hemorrhoids, you can file for secondary service connection under 38 CFR § 3.310. Depression tied to the same GI condition follows a similar path — see our page on depression secondary to IBS.

Mental Health Impact: Depression Secondary to Hemorrhoids

Many people underestimate how much hemorrhoids can affect daily life, but for veterans, the impact can be significant:

Chronic pain and discomfort
Embarrassment or anxiety around bowel movements or hygiene
Avoidance of social events, travel, or intimacy
Difficulty sitting, especially during long drives or work hours
Sleep disturbances from pain or irritation

Over time, these issues can lead to depression, isolation, and low self-esteem. If you’re already service-connected for hemorrhoids, and now suffer from depression as a result, you may be eligible for secondary service connection for a mental health condition. A well-reasoned depression nexus letter explains the medical link your rater needs to see.

How a Nexus Letter Can Help

To get any of these conditions service-connected, the VA needs proof of the connection—that’s where a nexus letter comes in.

At Brightview Psychiatry Solutions, we specialize in writing clear, medically sound nexus letters that explain:

How hemorrhoids began or were aggravated by military service
How IBS or other GI conditions may have caused or worsened your hemorrhoids
How chronic hemorrhoid pain and dysfunction have contributed to a diagnosis of depression

Our letters are based on a thorough review of your medical history, treatment records, and relevant medical literature. We ensure your story is told in clinical language the VA understands and respects.

You Served With Strength—Now Let Us Help You Get What You Deserve

Whether you’re filing a new claim, appealing a denial, or seeking secondary service connection, Brightview Psychiatry Solutions is here to support you with a nexus letter.

Conditions Related to Hemorrhoids That Can Be Service-Connected:

Hemorrhoids (direct or secondary)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Anal fissures
Chronic constipation or diarrhea
Depression secondary to hemorrhoid pain or dysfunction

Working with Dr. Allen on a Depression Nexus Letter Secondary to Hemorrhoids

A separate rating for depression can meaningfully change what a claim is worth. Hemorrhoids rate low — most veterans sit at 0 or 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7336 — so the physical condition alone rarely moves a combined rating much. Depression is rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, where occupational and social impairment is evaluated on its own scale. What a secondary claim like this needs is medical reasoning, not new evidence of an in-service event: the veteran does not have to re-prove anything about service, only show that an already service-connected condition caused or aggravated the depression.

The strength of that connection depends heavily on how severe and persistent the hemorrhoids have been. A veteran with occasional flare-ups controlled by ointment is unlikely to have a supportable claim. The connection becomes clinically credible when the condition is large or thrombotic with persistent bleeding, involves recurrent prolapse, has required surgical treatment or produced post-surgical complications, or causes fecal leakage or soiling — the kind of chronic, daily burden that disrupts sleep, restricts activity, and drives social withdrawal.

Dr. Allen reviews the treatment record to see whether that picture is documented, and will say honestly during the free consultation if it is not. Her opinions apply the “at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater)” standard, address causation and aggravation as separate theories, and account for other contributing factors rather than leaving them for a rater to raise as a reason for denial. Because she previously worked as a VA C&P examiner, she writes to what raters actually look for — a documented diagnosis, a clear medical rationale, and support from the literature.

💥 Yes, Hemorrhoids Can Be Service-Connected