Thyroid disorder decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence to support a direct link between his military service and the claimed disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the claim for an increased rating for duodenal ulcer disease due to withdrawal by the veteran. The thyroid disorder claim was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service and no medical nexus between the current condition and military service.

The veteran's Graves disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, headaches, sleep disturbance, and seborrhea were not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran did not satisfy the definition of a 'radiation-exposed veteran' and thus could not establish service connection for residuals of exposure to ionizing radiation. The conditions were not present in service, nor are they presumed to be related to service or radiation exposure.

The VA has determined that the veteran's hypothyroidism, which requires continuous medication, does not result in fatigue, constipation, mental sluggishness, muscular weakness, weight gain, cold intolerance, cardiovascular involvement, or bradycardia. Therefore, a higher initial evaluation beyond 10 percent is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pernicious anemia and hyperthyroidism, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's thyroid/goiter condition, which is currently rated at 10 percent, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on symptoms such as fatigue, constipation, and mental sluggishness. The evidence does not support an increased evaluation beyond the current rating.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or service connection for her claimed conditions.

The Board denied all service connection claims, finding no new and material evidence for the back disorder claim and concluding that none of the other conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claim for higher initial evaluations and effective dates for various service-connected conditions, including Hodgkin's disease, peripheral neuropathy, hypothyroidism, GERD, and depression, was granted. The decision also addressed the reopening of a claim for heart disease as secondary to Hodgkin's disease.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hypothyroidism, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The veteran's conditions, including multiple melanoma skin cancers, prostate cancer with artificial sphincter implantation, and parathyroid surgery, are not considered to be related to asbestos exposure or service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's erectile dysfunction is as likely as not caused by medications for his service-connected bipolar illness, and thus grants this claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypothyroidism first manifested within one year of his discharge from service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for thyroid cancer due to exposure to paint during service, but denied service connection for multijoint arthritis.

The VA denied an increased rating for service-connected Grave's disease with hypothyroidism, finding the veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found no credible evidence of in-service exposure to ionizing radiation and concluded that the veteran's hypothyroidism is not related to service, including any potential radiation exposure.