Thyroid disorder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's income was not excessive for non-service-connected disability pension benefits for the periods from July 2008 to December 2009 and January 2010, allowing him to receive special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from Philadelphia for the period between 1968 to 1998 and searching for archived and retired VA records related to both her married and maiden names. The case will be remanded for further review after any new evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were not met.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no new evidence has been provided to reopen the claim for service connection.

The Board is granting service connection for a foreshortened right leg and consequent right hip disability. However, the remaining claims of service connection for hypothyroidism, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and low testosterone are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his rheumatoid arthritis and parathyroidism.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective October 16, 2007 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and thyroid cancer were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure. The PTSD claim was denied due to lack of a confirmed in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed migraine headaches and thyroid condition were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds the evidence in favor of the claim to be more probative than the evidence against it, and grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid disorder and surgical residuals of thyrotoxicosis and Graves' disease due to herbicide exposure, including Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to complete additional development steps, including a dose estimate based on available methodologies. The claims for service connection will be reconsidered in light of all pertinent evidence and legal authority.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid cancer and anemia are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus type II are service-connected. The claim for residuals of thyroid removal is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to herbicide exposure or service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the severity of the service-connected hypothyroidism and whether weight gain is attributable to the condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including acquired psychiatric disorders, thyroidectomy residuals, kidney stones, neck disorder, muscle disorder, digestive disorder, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder. The appeals are based on direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome, psychiatric disorder, sleep disturbance, headaches, hypothyroidism, and Epstein-Barr virus on the basis of presumptive service connection under the provisions for Veterans of the Persian Gulf War. The appeals were not granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation during service, which may have contributed to her thyroid cancer. The AOJ is instructed to forward relevant records to the Under Secretary for Health for a dose estimate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current thyroid disability and therefore, service connection for a thyroid disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD, hypothyroidism, and knee replacements were all denied by the Board.