Thyroid disorder decisions — 2019

The claims to reopen service connection for various conditions have been granted. The specific disabilities are autoimmune disorder, fibromyalgia, IBS, residuals of cysts removal from the left ankle, numbness and neuropathy in the left thigh, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, pre-cancerous polyps, arthritis, NASH, and a heart condition.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, unspecified depressive disorder, heart disorder, high blood pressure, thyroid disorder, stroke residuals, deviated nasal septum, and sinusitis has been granted. The claims for service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder), heart disorder, high blood pressure, thyroid disorder, and stroke residuals have not been established.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid cancer, finding that there was no nexus between his current condition and his in-service exposure to herbicides. The evidence did not support a presumption of service connection due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left hip condition, right hip condition, and thyroid disability due to lack of causation by VA treatment.

The claim for service connection of a thyroid condition is remanded due to new evidence received. The claim for reopening the claim is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with dextroscoliosis, hypothyroidism, and migraines. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to hypothyroidism. The issues are being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for thyroid cancer and its residuals, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's assertions in his Form 9 meet the low threshold needed to provide an indication that his conditions may be associated with service.

The Veteran's hyperthyroidism and psychiatric disability are currently rated at their maximum levels, with no further increase in rating possible under the current criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure, but denied service connection for thyroid disorder due to herbicide exposure.

Service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and thyroid cancer has been granted.,The Veteran's heart condition and dental disability claims are pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and thyroid condition due to incomplete service records. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), obtain his complete service personnel records, and provide an opportunity for the Veteran to respond if further efforts are futile.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for hyperthyroidism and lumbar spine disability are denied. The issue of service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (GERD) is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain. The thyroid condition claim must be remanded as the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination to evaluate this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hyperthyroidism, sinusitis with headaches, hypertension with diabetic nephropathy, right ankle disorder, back disorder, neck disorder, eye disorder (papilledema), and lung disorder due to missing medical records. The case must be developed by obtaining all relevant treatment records from VA and private sources.

The Veteran's lung disability and thyroid disability were denied as not related to service.,The Veteran's thyroid disability was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 100 percent for hypothyroidism is granted, and he is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic liver disability, thyroid disorder, and hypertension have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Specifically, the Board requested a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease due to Agent Orange exposure is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for right hand arthritis is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a thyroid disorder and a lower back disorder, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a penile disorder.