Thyroid disorder decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for an unspecified blood disorder and thyroid cancer, finding no evidence of a current disability linked to the veteran's active duty. The claim for thyroid cancer was not considered secondary to herbicide exposure as the veteran served in Korea after the presumed period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed thyroid and skin pigmentation disabilities (vitiligo) are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of their onset during his period of active duty or a link to any incident in service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's Graves' disease and/or environmental disability were not incurred in, or aggravated by, service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, hypothyroidism, sterility, vision disorder, heart disease, blood disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and radiation burns, are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and exposure to ionizing radiation during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid disorder, including multi-nodular thyroid disease and hypothyroidism, as secondary to ionizing radiation exposure and/or chemoradiation treatment for service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypothyroidism, including Graves' disease, and a low back disorder are granted. The Veteran was first diagnosed with these conditions during her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disorder, claimed as due to radiation exposure during her military service is being remanded for additional development including obtaining the Veteran's unit history from 1980 to 1981 and providing her with a VA examination.

The Veteran's medical expenses for treatment of congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and thyroid were reimbursed as they fell under the criteria for payment or reimbursement in a non-VA facility.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including heart disease, stroke with left-sided weakness, left visual impairment, left auditory impairment, thyroid dysfunction, and seizure disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, characterized as Hashimoto's syndrome, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that a 30 percent rating is warranted based on the Veteran's reported symptoms of fatigue, constipation, and mental sluggishness.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic cough, psychiatric disorder, hyperthyroidism (claimed as hand tremors), and partial amputation of the left index finger. The Veteran's right hand condition was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his increased rating claims for hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for thyroidectomy is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and vascular disorders of the left lower extremity, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.

The Board found that the reduction of the evaluation for the Veteran's thyroiditis from 10 percent to noncompensable effective as of September 1, 2005, was proper. The Board also concluded that a compensable evaluation is not warranted for the Veteran's thyroiditis at any time during the pendency of this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for some conditions, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood secondary to a service-connected disability. The other claims related to malaria, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and thyroid abnormalities are either not supported by the evidence or have been reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches, cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and degenerative joint disease of the knees are granted. The Veteran is awarded a 10 percent rating for lumbar strain with degenerative changes from April 18, 2006 to January 4, 2008, and an increased evaluation to 40 percent thereafter. He also receives a non-compensable rating for his scar of the anterior neck and burn scar of the right hand. The Veteran's scrotal varices disability is rated as non-compensable, while his degenerative joint disease of the left knee and right knee are each rated as non-compensable.

The Veteran's heart disorder, thyroid disorder, and eye disorder were not found to be related to his military service. The skin disorder was not diagnosed until after separation from service and is presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure during service.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's kidney stone condition, currently rated at 30 percent.