Thyroid disorder decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to allegations of worsening service-connected disabilities since a June 2005 VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction did not significantly or materially contribute to his congestive heart failure, which resulted in his death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death was denied.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and Graves' disease/hyperthyroidism, finding that the evidence did not support a direct link to military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 4, 2004 to December 13, 2006 was denied as she did not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus and hypothyroidism were both denied higher initial ratings. The veteran is already receiving the maximum disability rating for her tinnitus, and there is no objective evidence of mental sluggishness or other disabling symptoms for her hypothyroidism.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and finds no basis for granting service connection in any of these cases.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed regarding the veteran's service dates and will remand the case for further action.

The Board found that the veteran's metastatic thyroid cancer was not caused by his active service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's hypothyroidism is not related to his service-connected Type I diabetes mellitus and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a thyroid disorder, headaches, memory loss, and hypertension to include as due to an undiagnosed illness. The issues of service connection for an upper respiratory condition, immune system deficiency, allergic reaction secondary to an immune system deficiency, and skin disability have also been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the cause of the veteran's death, specifically whether VA's decision to perform the surgery in light of his hypertension caused his demise.

The veteran's coronary artery disease, resulting from treatment for his service-connected thyroid disability, is granted. His service-connected post-operative partial thyroidectomy with thyroid replacement and exothalmia is rated at 100 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hypothyroidism and total thyroidectomy is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and analysis.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychogenic non-epileptic seizure disorder and remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The veteran seeks service connection for thyroid cancer, claiming it is due to exposure to radiation while working with nuclear weapons. The case has been remanded for further development and consideration of his claim under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's thyroid disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the veteran's hyperthyroidism, particularly given her service records from February 1995 to November 1995.

The veteran's service-connected thyroid tumor and psychiatric disability are maintained, while other claims for service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation are addressed.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent. The claims for low back disability, left knee disability, skin disability, and hypothyroidism are all granted based on direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected histiocytosis, hypothyroidism, and vasculitis. The conditions are currently rated at 30% for histiocytosis and hypothyroidism, and 20% for vasculitis.