Thyroid disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for Graves' disease and hypothyroidism, finding that new evidence supports a finding that these conditions manifested within one year following active service. The Board also found that treatment for Graves' disease resulted in hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected Graves' disease and hypothyroidism, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to April 26, 2010 due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment solely as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for xerostomia is denied as the evidence does not show complete loss of sense of taste.,The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism is denied as there are no findings, signs or symptoms attributable to his hypothyroid condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression has been rated at 70 percent since March 26, 2015. Effective May 10, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent.,Effective March 26, 2015, but no earlier, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded three issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including a right armpit tumor, thyroid disability, and colon disability. The Veteran contends that these conditions are related to ionizing radiation exposure during his military service in Greenland.

The Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism is found to have caused his sleep apnea, allowing for the grant of service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, borderline diabetes mellitus type II, and an endocrine disability (adrenal growth) due to Agent Orange exposure. The case is remanded as new evidence was submitted but does not meet the criteria for reopening the claim. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is also denied because there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's squamous metaplasia and carcinoma in situ have been remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability. The issue regarding an earlier effective date for service connection of hypothyroidism has also been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating and extension of a temporary total disability rating based on surgical convalescence, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for lupus and Graves' disease as there was no evidence to support a finding that military service caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a thyroid disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Board also noted that the Veteran had not raised any other issues.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of non-hemorrhagic sub-acute infarct in left cerebral peduncle secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease. The issue of service connection for hypothyroidism, also secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease, was remanded.

The Veteran's ED is secondary to his service-connected diabetes. However, the Board finds that he does not have a diagnosis of congestive heart failure and his currently diagnosed aortic stenosis was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.,The Veteran's kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism, and polyneuropathy are all secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and thyroid disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of thyroid disorder and sinusitis with left maxillary cyst or polyp are not related to service, and therefore denied both issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to unresolved issues regarding etiology and additional development of the evidence is required.

The Board found that the Veteran's conditions (ALS, thyroid cancer, frontal temporal lobe dementia, and primary progressive aphasia) were not shown to be due to any incident of his period of active duty service. As a result, he was denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, a chipped tooth, thyroid disorder, right knee disorder, left wrist ganglion cyst, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and TMJ. The appeals are now pending before the Board.