Thyroid disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to unresolved issues regarding increased ratings for right knee disability and hyperthyroidism, as well as a petition to reopen service connection for rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran's existing service-connected disabilities have not met the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, and thyroid cancer claims should be remanded for additional development due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and a skin disorder other than dermatitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted for urinary tract cancer as there is no current diagnosis or relevant medical records.

The Veteran's PFB, athlete’s foot, and toenail condition have been granted service connection. The Veteran's gout has been denied as there is no functional impairment resulting from the disability.,Service connection for residuals of any type of hepatitis (other than Hepatitis C) and thyroid condition has not been established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disorder has been reopened and granted. The case is remanded for further action on the claims of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, and for an effective date prior to September 30, 2014.

The Veteran's thyroid cancer is denied as service connection because the evidence does not support a link between his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition aggravated his hypertension and contributed to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thyroid condition and an initial compensable rating for nasal septoplasty residuals, finding that there was not enough evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's back disability, hypothyroidism, and GERD are all remanded for further evaluation as the current evaluations do not adequately reflect their severity.

The Veteran's cause of death due to thyroid cancer is being remanded for a VA medical opinion regarding the likelihood that his condition was related to service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied service connection claim for hypertension. Service connection is also granted for this condition. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a heart condition, COPD, an enlarged prostate, and hypothyroidism due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's eye disability, respiratory conditions, and hypothyroidism are granted service connection. Service connection for lumbar spine, knee, hearing loss, ear disability (claimed as infective otitis externa), leg cramps (to include peripheral neuropathy), hypertension, and anemia is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, a back disorder, and a thyroid disorder due to potential secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The appeal is also remanded for further review of certain issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as other conditions such as low back disability, hip, ankle, knee, foot disabilities, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric condition. The remand requires obtaining VA treatment records, conducting examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions, and providing opinions on their relationship to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The issues of service connection for anemia, bilateral knee DJD, GERD, and hypothyroidism are remanded.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The Veteran's right ankle disorder, residuals of left oophorectomy, and gynecological disorders are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their relationship to service exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and no higher.,The Veteran's contact dermatitis of left arm and biceps does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under current VA regulations.,The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under current VA regulations.,From June 14, 2010 to October 6, 2015, the Veteran’s service-connected chronic adjustment disorder was manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. A higher rating is not warranted since October 7, 2015.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent under current VA regulations.,Service connection for a left knee disorder was remanded.,A right knee sprain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine were both remanded.,A chronic right ankle sprain was also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding radiation exposure and service connection for a multinodular goiter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability has been reopened, and he is granted a 60 percent rating for his obstructed urethra post-urethroplasty. Service connection for thyroid condition and eye conditions are denied.