Thyroid disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer is at least as likely as not caused by exposure to herbicides during his active duty service, and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypothyroidism and macular degeneration, which he claims are related to exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development including a dose estimate from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA medical records and a more current VA examination related to her service-connected Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected hypothyroidism is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess current symptoms and manifestations of the condition.

The Veteran's bilateral cataracts are related to his service-connected Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM). The Veteran's hypothyroidism is not related to any period of active duty or active duty for training, and was not caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 17, 2007 was denied as she did not meet the schedular requirements and there was no evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's Hashimoto's disease (hypothyroidism) has been manifested by fatigability, constipation, depression, cold intolerance, and weight gain for the entire rating period. The Board finds that these symptoms more nearly approximate a 60 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7903.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of an infection of right index finger have been rated as 10 percent disabling since April 2005. The Veteran also received separate ratings for his post-operative residuals of the right ring finger fracture and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence was not received within one year of the August 2002 RO decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's thyroid disease did not begin during her period of ACDUTRA from May 1, 1989 to August 19, 1989 and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a thyroid disability during service or within one year after separation, and the Veteran's current condition is not related to her military service. For uterine fibroids and menorrhagia, status-post hysterectomy, the Board determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish their onset in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have its onset during active duty service due to combat noise exposure. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has found an inferred claim of entitlement to a TDIU and remanded the issue for further development. The case is now back with the Board for appellate consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of thyroid cancer and Graves' Disease was denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of such conditions during the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's thyroid condition did not manifest during service and there is no evidence linking it to a disease or injury incurred in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, with one disability rated at more than 40 percent and combined rating of over 70 percent. The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether he is unemployable by reason of these disabilities alone.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including verification of radiation exposure and a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between her conditions and service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic thyroid or endocrine disorder in service, and the preponderance of the evidence fails to establish that the Veteran's diagnosed non-malignant thyroid nodular disease (goiter) and Grave's Disease is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability evaluation for the Veteran's hypothyroidism, status-post Grave's disease. The issue of entitlement to a separate compensable evaluation for ocular residuals of Grave's disease is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism with scar warrants a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.