Thyroid disorder decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as her claimed conditions are not shown to be related to military service or any disease or injury of service origin.

The Veteran's exophthalmos and thyroidectomy scar have been evaluated, but the current ratings do not meet the criteria for a separate compensable rating.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic acquired psychiatric disability or hypothyroidism during service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a thyroid disorder, and for increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were denied. The Board found that there was no current disability to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected hypothyroidism, residuals of Grave's disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed as there was no evidence of radiation exposure and the conditions were not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 20, 2000, for the grant of service connection for hypothyroidism. The evidence showed that entitlement arose prior to April 2000 but the claim was received on April 21, 2000.

The Veteran's initial rating for hypothyroidism prior to January 24, 2012 was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating due to lack of cardiovascular involvement or muscle weakness.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection, including a heart valve disorder and sleep apnea syndrome. The thyroid disorder claim is also pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a psychiatric examination to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service. Additionally, the claim for papillary cell carcinoma of the thyroid will be developed under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.311 due to its potential connection with ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is obtained and considered in the Veteran's claims for service connection. This includes obtaining his Air National Guard service treatment records, verifying his periods of active duty training (ADT) and inactive duty training (IADT), and obtaining any private treatment records related to his claimed conditions.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of pneumonia and granted it. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of an intravenous injection.

The Veteran does not have cancer of the thyroid or lymph nodes as a result of his service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim, and that the claim must be denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation and developing a dose estimate based on possible radiation exposure during service. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism is currently rated at 30 percent, effective October 11, 2006. The evidence does not support a higher rating as her condition only requires continuous medication for control and is not manifested by muscular weakness, mental disturbance, weight gain, cold intolerance, cardiovascular involvement, bradycardia, or sleepiness.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision was made.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a nexus between his hypothyroidism and in-service radiation exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the RO after the hearing.