Thyroid disorder decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism, hypertension and heart disease, including as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation, is not well-grounded.

The Board has granted a 100% disability rating for diabetes mellitus, effective December 11, 1995. The claims for service connection for primary hypothyroidism and malabsorption syndrome as secondary to diabetes mellitus are well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid disorder, anemia, and jaundice, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, were not well grounded. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the medications he was taking for his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for low thyroid with weight gain and fatigue due to undiagnosed illness, finding that his current diagnosis of idiopathic hypothyroidism is not related to service or any known clinical condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin disorder, mouth disorder, eye disorder (other than proptosis and cataracts), thyroid disorder, and proptosis are related to exposure to ionizing radiation during active service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting a current disability and no link between service and claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid cancer, finding no competent evidence to support his assertions that the condition was caused by herbicide exposure or any other in-service injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting his claimed conditions and exposure history. The effective date for the hearing loss disability remains unchanged.

The Board has denied the claims for secondary service connection for renal artery stenosis and a thyroid condition as due to service-connected hypertension, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypothyroidism is presumed to be due to his exposure to ionizing radiation during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disorder due to exposure to ionizing radiation, finding no reasonable possibility that his current condition resulted from in-service exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis of the hands and feet, but denied any increase in disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and a total rating based on individual unemployability is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his bronchial asthma is currently well-managed with inhalers, his headaches do not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation, and his conditions of hypothyroidism, irritable colon syndrome, rash due to an undiagnosed illness, and joint and bone pain due to an undiagnosed illness are not supported by evidence showing they are related to service or the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for atherosclerotic/atherosclerotic heart disease and an increased disability evaluation for hypothyroidism, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between his service-connected conditions and these disabilities.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for hypoparathyroidism, finding that the condition is currently asymptomatic and no more than 0 percent disabling.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left thyroid adenoma as a result of exposure to Agent Orange was not granted. However, his PTSD has been rated at 100% since September 5, 1996.,The veteran is entitled to a total rating for compensation purposes on the basis of individual unemployability.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her thyroid and parathyroid disorders are granted, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned. Service connection for left knee and ankle disorders is not well grounded.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected thyroid disability is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional records and examinations.