Thyroid disorder decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of thyroid disease with a history of thyroid cancer status post subtotal thyroidectomy and herpes simplex virus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hypothyroidism, which she claims was caused by VA treatment in April 1998. The case has been remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the causation of her additional disabilities and their relationship to the treatment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid condition, finding that there is no competent evidence linking the current disorder to his period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypothyroidism is not related to his military service or due to medications for his service-connected bipolar disorder.

The RO denied service connection for thyroid carcinoma due to lack of new and material evidence, and the claim was previously withdrawn.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for MDS, COPD, pneumonia, thyroid cancer, leukopenia, and gastroesophageal ulcer. The appeals were not granted as there is no evidence of a nexus between any current disabilities and service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left neck condition, left shoulder and arm condition, removal of the ovaries, cystitis, and hypothyroidism. The issues related to these conditions were all found to be without merit.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an extension of her period of eligibility for receiving educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code (Montgomery GI Bill) beyond September 24, 2004 due to a lack of medical evidence showing that she was prevented from initiating or completing a program of education during the delimiting period.

The case is being remanded for VCAA notice and to re-adjudicate the service connection claims, as they are inextricably intertwined with the DEA eligibility claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of PTSD, a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, a bilateral knee condition, a thyroid condition, and hypertension. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's claims for skin disorder, prostate disorder, and hypothyroidism have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or ionizing radiation exposure. The prostate disorder claim is pending as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The veteran's claim for service connection for fibrocystic breast disease has been reopened, but she does not have the condition.,Her hypothyroidism with history of follicular carcinoma, status post right total and left subtotal thyroidectomies, is currently rated at 10% prior to September 30, 2004, and 30% thereafter.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, finding that the veteran's hypothyroidism was incurred during service and granting service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disability, Grave's disease, and hyperthyroidism are not related to service exposure to ionizing radiation or toxic chemicals. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the appellant was exposed to ionizing radiation during service and whether his skin cancer, hypothyroidism, or leg rash is related to such exposure.

The Board denied service connection for pituitary microadenoma and hypothyroidism, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records related to the veteran's treatment for hypothyroidism. The appeal is now on a de novo basis due to errors in calculating radiation dose estimates.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right ankle disability and hyperthyroidism, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than the current 10 percent evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, right knee disability, left eye disability, thyroid disorder, chronic headaches, residuals of chest injury, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records from the veteran's Merchant Marine service. The veteran is also to be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed disabilities.