Thyroid disorder decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for hypothyroidism, finding that she currently requires only continuous medication and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected total thyroidectomy for poorly differentiated follicular carcinoma should be restored to a 100% rating, given the ongoing need for therapeutic treatment despite the cancer being in remission.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of thyroid cancers, increased ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus are not well grounded. The RO denied these claims.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's residuals of thyroidectomy due to papillary carcinoma, effective from October 1, 1994 (the date of his initial claim), based on moderate symptoms including fatigue and mental sluggishness.

The Board denied an increased rating for hypothyroidism and hemorrhoids, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for polycystic ovary disease or ovarian cysts, and cysts of the right breast, thyroid gland, left hip, and left groin are not supported by evidence demonstrating a link to her military service.

The Board determined that the preponderance of the evidence did not support an increase in the original evaluations assigned for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypothyroidism, low back, migraine headache, right knee, left knee, left shoulder, and left wrist disabilities. The RO had initially assigned zero percent (noncompensable) evaluations, which were later changed to 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension benefits because he does not meet the criteria for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his disabilities. The evidence showed that the veteran is able to perform self-care activities, walk with a cane, drive an automobile, and leave his home when necessary.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for Graves' disease with hypothyroidism, finding that the condition required continuous medication and did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and vasomotor rhinitis are not well grounded as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, concluding that his symptoms were not due to service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer and a thyroid condition, both claimed as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypothyroidism, but denied service connection for these conditions. The veteran was granted a non-service-connected disability rating of 30% for his arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board found that cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The veteran's death was due to ischemic cardiomyopathy, which was related to atherosclerosis. There is no evidence of mustard gas exposure during service, nor any other service connection for the conditions causing the veteran's death.

The Board found no competent medical evidence showing that the veteran's thyroid disorder began during military service or may be attributed to her period of military service. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Epstein-Barr virus and thyroid disability, finding that there was no current disability from these conditions and thus not well-grounded. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between any past exposure to Agent Orange and the claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's thyroid nodular disease, bilateral cataracts of the eyes, and low back disability based on exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The effective date is not specified as it was determined that there was no new evidence to reopen previous claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, residuals of stab wounds to the abdomen, residuals of a stab wound to the right side of the face, and residuals of a stab wound of the neck and thyroid area. The veteran's service-connected disabilities were evaluated based on their current manifestations.

The veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism was granted, but the RO is still determining if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's thyroid disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new rating criteria, as there was no evidence of muscular weakness, mental disturbance, weight gain, or decreased circulating thyroid hormone levels. The lumbar strain issue was also denied.