Thyroid disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including heart disability, depression, diabetes, atrophy of the testicles, hiatal hernia (chronic indigestion), varicose veins, and hypothyroidism, make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that TDIU is granted.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to radiation during service and whether his thyroid cancer is related to that exposure. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected thyroid disorder has been rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher initial rating of 30 percent is warranted due to symptoms such as fatigability and constipation.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for a compromised immune system, residuals of breast cancer, right arm disorder, residuals of thyroid cancer, cancerous tumors in the neck, and right hip disorder. The denial is based on the absence of evidence showing a current disability or association with service.

The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, fibromyalgia, thyroid disability, gastrointestinal disability, upper respiratory disability (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), skin disorder, and hysterectomy are related to service. As such, these claims have been granted.,The Board has also found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, fibromyalgia, thyroid disability, gastrointestinal disability, upper respiratory disability (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), skin disorder, and hysterectomy are related to service. As such, these claims have been granted.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The claims for service connection for asthma, glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, enlarged prostate, and GERD have all been denied due to the lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's statements regarding his conditions are considered cumulative.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding treatment records. The current diagnostic code for her thyroid disability may need to be reconsidered based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and hypogonadism have been granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected TBI.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma, thyroid cancer (Graves' disease and excessive fatigue), and brain tumor (acoustic neuroma) are not service-connected due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid disability was not incurred in service and is not proximately due to or a result of a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's thyroid cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that there is no competent evidence linking his initial development or diagnosis of thyroid cancer to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for depression secondary to hypothyroidism and increased the rating for hypothyroidism from 10% to 30%. The Veteran's claim is now resolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and seeking verification of herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran is also requested to provide a VA medical opinion regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected thyroid cancer residuals, status post thyroidectomy, are currently rated at 30 percent and granted this rating.

The Veteran's step-daughter, C.H., is established as a helpless child due to her mental and physical disabilities that prevented her from self-supporting herself by age 18.

The Board found that the Veteran's thyroid cancer and BPH are not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not that either condition was caused by diabetes.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling for both lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The February 1976 rating decision did not contain clear and unmistakable error (CUE) regarding the claim of service connection for residuals of viral meningoencephalitis. The Veteran's PHP with hypothyroidism, which was later established as a service-connected condition, is not considered in this decision.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 100 percent for the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism, effective April 6, 2009.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism has been productive of fatigue, constipation and mental sluggishness in the period from July 29, 2010 to August 31, 2016. With resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, a 30 percent rating is granted for this period.