Thyroid disorder decisions — 2011

The Board found that the reduction from 30 percent to 10 percent effective December 1, 2006 for hypothyroidism was not warranted as there was no actual improvement in this disability at that time.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical evidence and scheduling VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple myeloma, thyroid cancer/parathyroid cancer, subcapsular cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, heart disease, and kidney stones were denied as there is no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's Grave's disease was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and it was not caused or aggravated by a service connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypothyroidism has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran seeks to reopen his claim for service connection for non-malignant thyroid disease and brain disease. The RO denied these claims previously but has now reopened them due to new evidence.,The Veteran also seeks a higher rating for hearing loss. He submitted private audiology notes, but the VA did not conduct an examination as requested by him.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss is remanded and will be considered in light of his presumed exposure to ionizing radiation during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including broken teeth, migraine headaches, head injury, dislocated shoulder, hip arthritis, knee arthritis, nose and jaw injuries, diabetes mellitus, thyroid issues, lung problems, throat issues, breathing problems, allergies, gum bleeding, loss of smell/taste, sleep apnea, swallowing problems (dysphagia), blepharitis, ulcers, chronic fatigue syndrome, psychiatric disorders, fear of heights, memory problems, and insomnia are not supported by the evidence.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to be examined by an endocrinologist to determine if his thyroid disorder and/or hypertension were incurred or aggravated during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) from March 2 to April 9, 2004.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge from service was under other than honorable conditions due to a pattern of misconduct, and thus constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's ulcer disorder with gastric reflux is presumed to have been incurred on active duty, and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran has heart problems, thyroid problems, and teeth problems which are secondary to his ulcer disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during service, and thus cannot establish service connection for diabetes mellitus type II or recurrent hyperparathyroidism on a presumptive basis. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypothyroidism and a heart condition, claimed as due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation during service and whether his current conditions are related to such exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is likely related to her service-connected hypothyroidism, and thus grants service connection for depression as secondary to her service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is denied. The effective date will be set at March 23, 2007, as this was when the condition was first diagnosed and claimed.

The Veteran's annual income exceeds the maximum limit for nonservice-connected pension benefits with aid and attendance, resulting in denial of his claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's carcinoma of the thyroid, metastatic carcinoma of the right leg, and metastatic disease of the lumbar spine are related to his exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board finds that the effective date for the grant of service connection for residuals of a brain injury should be November 19, 2004, not prior to this date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypothyroidism, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.