Thyroid disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for benign left breast mass, hoarseness and vocal cord nodules, and benign multinodular thyroid goiter due to additional development being needed prior to adjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypothyroidism, which developed after a thyroidectomy in 2010, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen claims for service connection of various conditions, but the cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for polyglandular autoimmune syndrome with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and type I (autoimmune) diabetes, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, left ankle sprain, and chronic lumbosacral strain have been rated as 60 percent disabling. The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 13, 2010 for the grant of service connection for residuals of a total thyroidectomy for a benign goiter as there was no earlier claim received by VA.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's representative indicating withdrawal of all current appeals.

Service connection for hypothyroidism and chronic UTIs as secondary to interstitial cystitis is granted. Service connection for costochondritis, uterine fibroid, endometriosis, and chronic pelvic pain and painful menstrual cramps are denied.

The Veteran's thyroid cysts/nodule with dysphonia has increased in severity since the last VA examination, and she is being asked to report for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's thyroid cancer is not service connected as it does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure, and there is no evidence linking his current condition to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disorder and hypothyroidism, finding that a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to her military service at Fort McClellan.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee disability, thyroid disability, allergies, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, and hypertension have been withdrawn. The remaining claims of service connection are being remanded due to the absence of VA examination reports and outstanding treatment records.

The Board has ordered remand for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, skin cancer, and thyroid disorder due to radiation exposure. The RO must obtain a dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health if it finds that the Veteran was not onboard the USS LSM 387 at Nagasaki Harbor.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the December 2008 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims for service connection of hypothyroidism, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not conditions entitled to presumptive service connection based upon his in-service exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen his hypothyroidism and sleep apnea service connection claims, and the arthritis, back condition, neck condition, high cholesterol, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer residuals, coronary artery disease, scar due to coronary artery bypass grafting, scar due to radical prostatectomy, PTSD, and rating increase claims have all been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism as it manifested within one year of the Veteran's separation from active duty and is not attributable to intercurrent causes.

The Veteran's appeals seeking service connection for chest disorder, thyroid disorder, and earlier effective date for left upper extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim to reopen a previously denied claim of residuals of a TBI has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for liver condition, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, skin cancer, and thyroid problems due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims for various disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim and an earlier effective date claim for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease. The appellant is required to provide updated VA treatment records and identify any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for paranasal sinus condition, allergic rhinitis, diabetes mellitus, right hip disability, and thyroid condition are all denied. The claim for service connection for a paranasal sinus condition is granted as new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim.