Thyroid disorder decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's thyroid disorder is controlled by continuous medication and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, thus denying an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The VA denied a compensable evaluation for Grave's disease with hyperthyroidism, finding no current evidence of active disease and noting that the veteran does not have tachycardia or tremors warranting a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 7900.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for hypothyroidism and service connection for patello-femoral syndrome, right knee; sinusitis; sore joints (undiagnosed illness); cervical spine degenerative arthritis (undiagnosed illness); and edema (claimed as fluid retention in legs).

The veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation is being remanded as the veteran has not been scheduled for a hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his condition to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a thyroid disorder, finding no evidence to support these claims based on direct service connection or due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent for left neck cyst excision residuals, finding that the veteran's painful scar warranted such a rating. The thyroid condition claim is pending as it was reopened on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records and further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The veteran is seeking service connection for papillary thyroid cancer, which he claims was caused by exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service. The case has been remanded due to the need for a dose estimate based on available methodologies and a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that chloracne was not incurred or aggravated by service and is unrelated to military service, including presumed herbicide exposure during his service in the Republic of Vietnam. Peripheral neuropathy of the right leg and left leg are not shown to be related to military service, including presumed herbicide exposure. Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Sjogren's syndrome were not incurred or aggravated by service and are unrelated to military service. Arthritis of the legs and feet is not shown to be otherwise related to service or a service-connected disorder. Hypertension was not incurred in service but is aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that his broken hip was a significant factor in his death but not related to any service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for hyperthyroidism, including Graves' disease. The issue of whether the June 1993 VA decision denying service connection was clearly and unmistakably erroneous will also be addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a head injury, tinnitus, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and amblyopia. The evidence did not support these claims as there was no current disability related to any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and alopecia totalis, finding that the veteran's conditions likely had their onset during his military service.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, a left knee disorder, back pain, thyroid disorder, and vision impairment due to lack of evidence showing these conditions arose during active duty or were caused by exposure to noise or other factors in service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of thyroidectomy are currently rated at 10 percent, and his anxiety reaction is rated at 30 percent. The claims for increased ratings have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for several conditions, including oral leukoplakia with squamous cell carcinoma and other respiratory issues. The decision is based on presumed exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to May 10, 2004, for a grant of service connection for thyroid carcinoma has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.