Thyroid disorder decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's incarceration, including arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypothyroidism has been dismissed as he failed to provide necessary information and releases for the VA to secure pertinent evidence, leading to his abandonment of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and readjudication of the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis, colloid cyst of the thyroid, dry eyes, and eyelid infections were not incurred or aggravated by active military service. The evidence shows these conditions existed prior to enlistment.

The Board found that the Veteran's thyroid disorder, cardiovascular disorder, chronic liver disorder, and hypertension were all reasonably shown to have had their onset during a period of active duty training (ADT). The claims for service connection are granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hyperparathyroidism, and pancreatitis. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination in each of these areas.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney disability and hypothyroidism were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2005 for TDIU was denied as the earliest ascertainable date of increased disability was February 1, 2005.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2005 for DEA eligibility was denied as he did not meet the criteria for permanent and total disability prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital in February 2006 was denied because the services were not authorized by VA and the Veteran had other health care coverage under Medicare.

The Board found that the Veteran's thyroid nodules were not present during active service, did not first manifest within one year following discharge from service, and have not been shown by competent medical evidence to be etiologically related to his service. As such, service connection for thyroid nodules is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disability, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to radiation exposure.

The Veteran's thyroid lobectomy residuals with a history of a right thyroid nodule and dysphagia, rated as 30 percent disabling from October 18, 2005, to April 6, 2006, is now rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's hypothyroidism, also rated as 10 percent disabling since April 7, 2006, remains at the same rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disorder and a thyroid disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for thyroid disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of his exposure to radiation during service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not permanently incapable of self-support at age 18.

The Board has dismissed the claims for an increased rating for athlete's foot and service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, L5-S1, to include as secondary to service-connected arthritis of the cervical spine. The Veteran withdrew his appeals with respect to these issues.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance due to her physical and mental disabilities. However, she meets the criteria for special monthly pension on account of being housebound.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, hypothyroidism, hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder (major depression with polysubstance abuse, in remission), and residuals of low back trauma. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence presented.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a dose assessment of ionizing radiation exposure and an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his skin disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted for sinus tachycardia, while the Veteran's migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, and hypothyroidism (post thyroidectomy) were rated appropriately.