Thyroid disorder decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection and an initial disability rating of 10 percent for Graves' disease with associated hypothyroidism, effective from August 28, 2000.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected hypothyroidism with organic brain syndrome dementia, finding that the current 60 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and readjudication of the initial ratings for hypothyroidism, bilateral knee strain, and residuals of a fracture of the left fifth metacarpal bone.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and thyroid carcinoma (claimed as throat cancer), finding no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also noted that there was no positive association between exposure to herbicides and any other condition.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic central nervous system symptoms, but denied the remaining claims on appeal.