Thyroid disorder decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board denied service connection for a blood disorder due to ionizing radiation in May 1991. The veteran's current conditions are not related to his exposure to ionizing radiation or service.,Service connection was also denied for basal cell carcinoma of the back, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), coronary artery disease (CAD), thyroid disease, and nuclear cataracts due to exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board found that the veteran did not have sufficient evidence to establish exposure to ionizing radiation during service, and thus could not grant service connection for thyroid cancer due to such exposure.

The Board found no reasonable possibility that the veteran's thyroid cancer was attributable to his exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left and right knee disabilities, to include arthritis, are not related to service. The claims for thyroid disability and hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it was incurred in service. Service connection was denied for the other conditions listed.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule the veteran for examinations.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism, total thyroidectomy, based on evidence showing muscle weakness, mental disturbance, and weight gain.

The Board denied service connection for a thyroid disorder, including hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, as due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The veteran was previously denied in June 1998 but did not file an appeal within the required time frame.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's rotator cuff tear of the right shoulder from October 21, 2003 to March 6, 2005. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for hyperthyroidism and entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for status post blunt trauma of the distal phalanx of the right middle finger are remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions, and there was insufficient evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran withdrew her appeals, indicating she was satisfied with the current ratings and felt unable to prove entitlement to higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a thyroid disorder attributable to his period of active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's initial disability ratings for hypothyroidism with cognitive dysfunction and bilateral restless leg syndrome have been granted, but no new or increased evaluations are warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, back disability, thyroid disability, bilateral heel spurs, and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the appellant meets the criteria for special monthly death pension based on need for regular aid and attendance (A&A), and providing proper VCAA notice regarding her income limitations.

The Board has determined that service connection for transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) is not warranted, as there was no evidence of TIAs in service or related to a service-connected condition. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypothyroidism and hyperlipidemia/ anemia are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's hypothyroidism, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma as due to exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The claims for seborrheic keratosis and tenesmus, loose stool, colitis, and radiation proctitis have been denied.