Thyroid disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of nerve damage, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities effectively render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to Agent Orange and other chemicals/toxins/gases during active duty for training, as well as a VA examination for thyroid disorder and psychiatric condition.

The Board denied service connection for a thyroid disorder and granted service connection for left ventricle hypertrophy with left atrial enlargement. The right elbow disability was not found to be related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic low back pain and neuritis of the left sciatic nerve, have prevented him from obtaining or retaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for leukemia and a benign thyroid nodule have been denied. The Board found that the conditions did not manifest during or within one year of separation from active service, nor were they related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records of occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and requesting a dose estimate from DTRA. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for hypothyroid disease and service connection for a skin disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to February 14, 2012, or in excess of 60 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD and depression. However, the claim remains denied as there is no valid diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not related to active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed chronic thyroid disability did not begin during or was otherwise caused by her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a higher rating of his service-connected hypothyroidism with tachycardia and obesity, as the decision was final due to lack of disagreement with the initial assignment of the disability rating.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for Grave's disease with iatrogenic hypoparathyroidism, hypothyroidism and hypokalemia. The case was remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the current nature and severity of his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records and clarification of certain diagnoses.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and other relevant medical evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be readjudicated after the completion of this development.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, and Grave's disease are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for Grave's disease prior to August 29, 2007 was denied as the only demonstrated symptom was tachycardia. For the period from August 29, 2007 onwards, his symptoms included weight gain and increased blood pressure, which did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thyroid nodular disease is related to his service exposure to radiofrequency radiation, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypothyroidism and erectile dysfunction are related to his service, specifically due to in-service exposure to herbicides and/or as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for skin cancer and non-malignant thyroid nodular disease due to ionizing radiation exposure. The Veteran's active duty participation in the occupation of Nagasaki qualifies him as a 'radiation-exposed veteran'.

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