Thyroid disorder decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding radiation exposure and its potential impact on the Veteran's thyroid disability. The claim will be further developed to obtain a dose estimate from the Army.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, claiming she became disabled due to her service-connected migraines and lupus disabilities in February 2000. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine when the Veteran first became unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's papillary thyroid carcinoma is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, and the claim for service connection is granted. The left arm/shoulder disorder is found to be secondary to surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma. A temporary total rating is granted following the thyroid cancer surgery.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a dose estimate for radiation exposure and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back condition. The claim for service connection for thyroid cancer will also be referred for consideration under specific regulations governing claims based on ionizing radiation exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Huntington RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for renal cancer, residuals of jungle rot, left foot, and hyperthyroidism are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's hyperthyroidism, sarcoidosis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression and PTSD) were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The VA examiner diagnosed Grave's disease in remission and opined that the Veteran's hypothyroidism is not causally related to her active service or to her service-connected disability. The Board finds that the Veteran did not experience chronic symptoms of hypothyroidism during active service or continuous symptoms from separation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records from her endocrinologist regarding her hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's Graves' disease, a form of hyperthyroidism, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to its development within the first six months after his separation from active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed hypothyroidism is treated by a daily dose of Synthroid and his laboratory results reflect values within a normal range. The Veteran’s complaints related to weight gain, muscular weakness, fatigability, constipation, cold intolerance, mental sluggishness, and constipation have not been clinically demonstrated or related to his service-connected thyroid disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations and consideration of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back strain and rheumatoid arthritis, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection based on direct service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, presumed due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. Service connection was denied for hearing loss, internal hemorrhoids, ulcerative proctitis, hypertension, a heart disorder (presumed secondary to hypertension), right kidney disorder (renal cell carcinoma), Hashimoto's thyroiditis with goiter, and gallstones.