Thyroid disorder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service connection claims for type II diabetes mellitus, thyroid condition, hypertension, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral multi-nodular goiter is likely the same disorder as non-malignant thyroid nodular disease with enlarged thyroid. The claim for service connection was denied because there is no evidence of a thyroid disorder during service, and the condition did not become manifest within one year after discharge.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, including a lack of an opinion on whether it is related to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hypothyroidism, all secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unemployable prior to December 30, 2003. The Board found that the effective date for TDIU should be set at December 30, 2003, and denied special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Veteran's hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease) is manifested by various symptoms and the Board has determined that a rating of 60 percent, but not more, for this condition from June 1, 2007 onward, approximates his disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and the obtaining of relevant medical records.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid cancer and sleep apnea, finding no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's exposure to defoliants in Vietnam is not presumed due to the lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to March 22, 2010. The appeal for increased ratings for other conditions is denied.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism is not related to service-connected conditions or Persian Gulf service, and her symptoms are attributed to known diagnoses.,The Veteran's fatigue, weight gain, joint pain, and cold sensitivity do not qualify as undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses related to her Persian Gulf service. Her GERD is also not related to service-connected conditions or Persian Gulf service.,Service connection for GERD was denied on the basis that it did not manifest during service, is not related to a disease, injury, or event during service, and was not caused or aggravated by service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a thyroid disorder and finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including a partial thyroidectomy performed in 1958.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for postoperative left ankle degenerative joint disease and hypothyroidism, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for any of the claimed conditions due to lack of in-service exposure and insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a Travel Board hearing at the RO level.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause functional limitations that prevent him from overcoming his employment handicap, and thus he is not entitled to vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31 of Title 38 of the United States Code.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure/hypertension and intermittent dizzy spells and blackouts have been dismissed due to the latter being already service-connected as symptoms of his heart disability. The claim for service connection for hypothyroidism has been granted with a 10% rating effective from October 31, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records and ensure a complete record is available before deciding the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected hypothyroidism is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair as a normal mode of locomotion.