Thyroid disorder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including hypothyroidism, right shoulder disability, migraine headaches, urinary incontinence, left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disability and arthritis, are not etiologically related to her periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) or Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA). The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for an annual clothing allowance, special home adaptation, and specially adapted housing are being remanded due to the need for further review by the Under Secretary for Health or designee regarding her service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to service connection for low back disability and TDIU remain in appellate status.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a causal link between the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during service and his fatal medullary thyroid cancer.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected thyroid disability and dysphagia/difficulty swallowing were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid cancer, to include as due to exposure to ionizing radiation, finding no evidence of in-service exposure or manifestation of the condition within one year post-service. Service connection was not established on a direct basis.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service was under dishonorable conditions, specifically an undesirable discharge to escape trial by general court-martial. As a result, his character of discharge is considered a bar to receiving VA benefits for hyperthyroidism.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are too numerous and severe to identify a feasible vocational goal, leading to the denial of his VR&E benefits.

The Board found that thyroid cancer and Grave's disease are not associated with the Veteran's military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims were denied as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his low back pain, hypothyroidism, memory loss, fatigue, high blood pressure, bad vision, high cholesterol, and depression symptoms, and determining the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA opinion regarding non-ionizing radiation exposure. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including verification of in-service stressors and evaluation of current psychiatric disorders, left leg disability, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, or that any diagnosed conditions began during his active service.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's currently diagnosed thyroid disorder due to lack of in-service disease and failure to relate it to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypothyroidism, which he claims was diagnosed during a period of active duty training. The RO has requested the Veteran's medical records from Kaiser Permanente but these have not been obtained yet.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed Type II Diabetes, prostate cancer, thyroid condition, and COPD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer is not related to his in-service radiation exposure and denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to hold a scheduled hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted, and his initial rating for hypothyroidism remains at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypothyroidism, with associated depressive disorder, warrants a disability rating of 60 percent. The symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran withdrew his claims of service connection for hypothyroidism and circulation issues, and all other claims on appeal.