Thyroid disorder decisions — 2015

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal on the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for a bipolar disorder and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for hypothyroidism.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current hypothyroidism. The claim will be reconsidered with a new opinion from an endocrinologist.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism, effective from April 2009. The Veteran's symptoms of fatigue, constipation, and mental sluggishness have been considered in determining this rating.

The Veteran's service-connected Grave's disease, post-thyroidectomy, is associated with thyroid eye disease. The Board has granted service connection for the thyroid eye disease on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has requested to withdraw all pending appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The other claims are pending further development and examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination regarding his obstructive sleep apnea. Increased ratings are also being remanded for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, status-post Grave's disease, has resulted in symptoms such as fatigability, continuous need for medication, mental sluggishness, mental disturbance, weight gain, cold intolerance, and sleepiness. The Board granted a 60 percent disability evaluation.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hyperthyroidism, which was diagnosed during his period of active service. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's vertigo, diabetes, hemorrhoids, PTSD, right leg lesion, costochondritis, GERD, enlarged thyroid, and incontinence have been related to service or service-connected disability. The endometrial polyps are considered incurred during service.

The Veteran's papillary carcinoma of the thyroid was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to clarify the relationship between his service-connected conditions and any current diagnoses, including whether they were first manifested during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and thyroid cancer have been reopened, but new evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to service. The claim for increased rating for diabetes mellitus is denied, as the current evaluation adequately compensates the Veteran. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding radiation exposure and a VA examination for his skin disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a dose estimate for radiation exposure claims and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of his lumbar spine disability and left shoulder acromioclavicular separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer is attributable to environmental exposure in service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability, cardiovascular disability, and thyroid disability. The disabilities were found not to be related to active duty or ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent disability for hypothyroidism is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence and a request for review by the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for thyroid cancer as due to exposure to ionizing radiation, based on newly submitted medical evidence.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right vocal cord has not reoccurred and does not require therapeutic procedures. His hypothyroidism is currently rated at 10 percent, as there are no symptoms warranting a higher rating. His hoarseness is also rated at 10 percent due to lack of objective evidence of thickening or nodules.