Thyroid disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for postoperative hypothyroidism, Graves' Disease, and hyperthyroidism is denied as the disability was not shown to be related to his service or service-connected OSA.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and an eye disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, including hypothyroidism with bradycardia, depression with a mood disorder, thoracolumbar spine strain with ankylosing spondylitis, and other conditions. The Board has determined that she meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's current 10 percent rating for hypothyroidism is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination, including consideration of overlapping criteria with other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected partial thickness supraspinatus tear of the left shoulder has been manifested by disability equating to abduction limited to 45 degrees with painful motion, warranting a 20% rating.,Service connection for hypothyroidism is granted and rated at 20%, effective from December 2007.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as they are moot due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart palpitations, abnormal liver function test results, obesity, diverticulitis, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, allergic rhinitis, and major depressive disorder. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for appropriate examinations.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for parathyroid adenoma and kidney disorder, but remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding secondary service connection for kidney condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and thyroid condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's thyroid disorder, including thyroid cancer and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, is secondary to her service-connected hysterectomy.

The Veteran's non-malignant thyroid nodular disease is being remanded due to the need for a dose estimate of radiation exposure in service. The case will be forwarded to the Under Secretary for Health for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability and credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service, thus establishing service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, hypothyroidism, and a stomach condition (GERD), all potentially related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's application to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for a stomach condition (now claimed as GERD) was denied. Service connection for hypothyroidism with intermittent hoarseness is also denied, but the right foot condition with bone problems is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's service connection claims for left arm condition, COPD, bilateral lung nodules, left thyroid mass, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand are pending as they require verification of herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his throat disorder, right foot injury residuals, skin disorders of the feet, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities.,Specifically, a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has any current residuals from his in-service right tonsil abscess and lymphadenopathy. The examiner should also provide an opinion on whether his current right ankle disability had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, vision disorder (as secondary to diabetes mellitus), hypothyroidism, and gum/dental condition.,No new evidence was submitted that would support reopening any of these claims.

The Board has denied service connection for thyroid nodules, heart disability, infertility, diabetes mellitus, headaches, and memory loss. The issues of service connection for a heart disability, infertility, diabetes mellitus, headaches, and memory loss are REMANDED.

The Veteran's lung disorder (asthma) and hyperthyroidism were denied service connection. The skin disorder, bilateral eye disorder, bilateral foot disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are remanded for further development.,New evidence was not received to reopen the claim of a lung disorder, and there is no direct or presumptive service connection for hyperthyroidism due to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a stomach disorder, skin cancer of the face, and thyroid cyst due to conflicting medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's upper and lower back disabilities, as well as his heart attack and migraines, are currently rated at the lowest possible level (10 percent) due to their limited functional impairment.,His hypothyroidism is not rated higher because it does not cause significant symptoms.