Thyroid disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for loss of equilibrium and balance, thyroid condition, and left thumb laceration as there is no evidence of a separate disability manifesting these conditions.,Service connection for heart disability (including heart murmur), diabetes mellitus type 2, and numbness in bilateral legs and feet remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a recurrent low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorders, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide the veteran's claims for service connection due to her alleged in-service personal assault. The appellant must provide information about her service and any stressor involving a personal assault.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death is remanded due to incomplete information regarding his service connection and exposure history. The VA will need to verify if he was exposed to herbicides during his service in Korea, obtain all relevant medical records, and provide a comprehensive examination to determine the cause of death.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, prostate disorder, blood disorder, and thyroid disorder as there is no current evidence of these conditions during the appeal period or a link to service. The Veteran's claims for skin disorder and increased PTSD rating are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and a lumbar spine disorder, as they are related to herbicide agent exposure. The RO is instructed to verify the Veteran’s alleged exposure to herbicides in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, or at Fort Sherman, Panama.

The Board has granted the reopening of a claim for service connection for a thyroid disorder post total left thyroidectomy and subtotal right thyroidectomy for papillary carcinoma of thyroid, but has remanded the issue to determine if the condition was aggravated during military service.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection, including for DJD of various joints and related disabilities such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, and tinnitus. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and MDD. Service connection is also granted for hypothyroidism as secondary to a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's initial ratings for hypothyroidism and bruxism-induced TMJD were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypothyroidism is related to his service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date prior to February 4, 2008, for the grant of entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance. The evidence did not show that the appellant was in need of regular aid and assistance or permanently housebound before this date.

The Veteran's asthmatic bronchitis is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Veteran's iatrogenic hypothyroidism rating is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent respiratory disorder, recurrent skin disorder, and recurrent sleep disorder due to exposure to environmental hazards during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Addison's disease, underactive thyroid disease, low testosterone, sleep apnea, esophageal cancer, and osteoporosis due to a procedural issue regarding substitution.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperthyroidism, and a benign brain tumor have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,There is no current diagnosis of or treatment for the claimed conditions.

The Board is requesting additional medical records to determine the current severity of the Veteran's hypothyroidism.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's lung disorder, prostate cancer, skin disorder, thyroid disorder, Parkinson's disease, and seizure disorder are not service-connected as they did not begin during active duty or are not related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.,While the Veteran reported exposure to asbestos while working with heating pipes during his Merchant Marine service, the Board found no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for lung conditions during his active duty years. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the current diagnoses are related to in-service exposures.,The Veteran's prostate cancer was diagnosed decades after separation from service and there is no credible evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Board found no connection between the current diagnosis and any in-service injury, event, or disease.,There were no diagnoses of skin disorders during active duty years, and the June 2017 examiner could not find objective evidence linking the Veteran's current skin conditions to service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the current diagnoses are related to in-service exposures.,The Board found no credible evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents during active duty years, and there is no diagnosis or treatment for thyroid disorders documented during those years. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the current diagnosis is related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.,There was no credible evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents during active duty years, and the June 2017 examiner could not find objective evidence linking the Veteran's current seizure disorder to service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the current diagnosis is related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.