Thyroid disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for an appropriate VA examination. The Veteran's thyroid disability resulting from chemical removal is being evaluated based on direct service connection, without presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation and forwarding his claims file to the VA Under Secretary for Health for a dose estimate. The issues of service connection for thyroid cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation and metastatic carcinoma of the lungs as secondary to thyroid cancer are inextricably intertwined and must be addressed together.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) on all issues, including service connection for thyroid disorder and diabetes mellitus. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression will be deferred until the outcome of the thyroid disorder claim is determined.

The Veteran's adrenal insufficiency is currently rated at 20 percent, but the VA examiner noted that he may warrant a higher rating based on his symptoms of frequent fatigability and episodes of dehydration. The Veteran's hypothyroidism was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism was found to be active but without any particular symptoms or complications, and thus the initial rating of 30 percent remains unchanged.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorder are not service-connected due to lack of in-service exposure or development, and the claims for these conditions based on Agent Orange exposure are denied.

The Veteran's thyroid cancer was not present during service or for many years thereafter, and was not caused by any incident of service including Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and residuals of jungle rot, left foot due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not show a current disability or a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including thyroid disorder, numbness of upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, unspecified disorders, muscle atrophy, and esophageal disorder, were denied as the evidence did not support a link to active service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hyperthyroidism has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for hypothyroidism, residuals of thyroid removal, and calcium/bone loss resulting in left ankle/leg condition are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address emotional instability, cold intolerance, bradycardia, generalized decalcification of bones, and kidney stones. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for skin cancer and thyroid disorder, finding new and material evidence. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for a sleep disorder and dismissed the motion to revise the May 1995 rating decision on CUE. The thyroid disorder claim is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid disorder is related to his service-connected otitis externa and grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, diagnosed as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, is currently rated at 30 percent and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism has been rated at 30 percent since April 24, 2012. The AMC/RO found that the Veteran's symptoms of fatigue and constipation were related to her service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea and deep vein thrombosis, all secondary to his service-connected TBI. The appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including readjudicating the applications to reopen claims of service connection for organic bowel syndrome and hypothyroidism as a residual of treatment for hyperthyroidism, and the claim for TDIU. The AOJ must issue a supplemental statement of the case if any of these claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for depression as secondary to coronary artery disease, hypertension, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Other conditions such as hypothyroidism, histoplasmosis, manifestations of valley fever, and hypercholesterolemia have been reopened but the decision on their merits is not specified.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back injury, bilateral knee disability, heart disease, hypertension, and thyroid disease as they were not shown to have had their onset in service or be otherwise related to service.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service event, injury, or illness that led to these disabilities.