Thyroid disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for hypothyroidism, including Grave’s disease, as secondary to herbicide exposure. The VA is instructed to obtain personnel records confirming Vietnam service and provide a VA examination to determine if there is any link between the Veteran's thyroid disability and his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's post-ablative hypothyroidism (previously classified as Graves' Disease) is rated at 100 percent since May 20, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for dysphagia, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and either his service-connected hypertrophic tonsil or any misdiagnosed thyroid condition. The decision also noted that the Veteran had not provided competent medical evidence of a misdiagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding chemical exposure and radiation, which may affect the service connection determination for the thyroid cyst.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The claim for sleep disorder is also reopened.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (primarily PTSD) is denied as there is no credible evidence that the claimed stressor occurred.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism should be remanded to allow for a full review of all evidence added since the April 2019 SOC.

The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between the condition and active duty service or within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer, which caused his death in August 2017, was related to his service exposure to Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hypothyroidism is being remanded due to the need for clarification and an addendum opinion from the VA examiner who conducted the December 2018 examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's current thyroid disability and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service, specifically in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to this condition.,The Veteran's hearing loss and hypothyroidism were both evaluated at their current levels, but he requested higher evaluations. A new VA examination is needed to determine if his disabilities are more severe than currently rated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid cancer and lipomas of the back, finding no evidence to support a direct relationship with military service or any presumptive exposure. The claim for lipomas was remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and stroke due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid cancer, status post thyroidectomy is granted due to new and material evidence. The claim for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to changes in rating criteria for hypothyroidism after the Veteran's last VA examination and SOC. The case needs to be evaluated based on the new criteria, and updated medical records are required.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been denied. The Board found that the criteria for an earlier effective date were not met, as the effective date assigned was the day following discharge from service. For other issues, no higher rating could be assigned based on current evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and temporary total evaluation were dismissed due to his death.