Thyroid disorder decisions — 2011

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran's thyroid cancer was incurred or aggravated during service, including due to exposure to ionizing radiation. As such, service connection for thyroid cancer cannot be established.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a comprehensive examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ascertain the Veteran's service dates and obtain any outstanding service treatment records. The Veteran's headaches need a more specific evaluation, and his representative needs an opportunity to respond to the appeal.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have thyroid cancer or metastatic carcinoma of the lungs due to service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a rating in excess of 30 percent or 10 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain records related to her exposure history and to schedule a VA examination to address the etiology of her hypothyroidism, left foot plantar fasciitis, and osteoarthritis, sacroiliac joint and sacroiliitis, left hip.

The Board has denied all issues on appeal, finding that the appellant does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted. The cholesterol condition is not considered a disease or disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's death was caused by a suicide due to severe depression, which was a manifestation of his service-connected Graves Disease and hypothyroidism. The Board finds that the cause of death is attributable to service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism and residuals of thyroidectomies has been denied. The appeals for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and for a total rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have fibromyalgia and his symptoms are related to hypothyroidism, which is a diagnosed condition. Therefore, service connection for fibromyalgia cannot be granted on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism was denied as the evidence did not show that she required hormone replacement therapy to maintain normal thyroid functioning status post thyroidectomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed sleep apnea had its onset during his second period of active military service and is therefore incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypothyroidism, difficulty breathing, and cervical osteoarthritis (claimed as neck swelling) was denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea and hypothyroidism, have resulted in a combined disability rating of 70 percent. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a retrospective medical opinion regarding whether her service-connected disabilities rendered her unemployable from April 5, 2006 to December 31, 2007. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining this information.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including hypothyroidism, COPD, a neurological condition (to include multiple sclerosis), and uveitis, are not related to service or any presumptive exposure. As such, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and CUE in a November 1985 rating decision. The case is being remanded to obtain SSA records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction are presumed to be related to his military service due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran does not have hypothyroidism or retinopathy as a result of his service.