Thyroid disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's thyroid cancer was not incurred in service and is denied as the evidence does not support a link between his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and his current condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Graves’ disease, finding that there is insufficient medical evidence to establish a relationship between his condition and herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, arthritis of the hands, and hyperparathyroidism were denied. A higher initial rating for GERD was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic sinusitis, thyroid carcinoma, muscle cramps, arm cramps to the left and right upper extremities, and leg cramps to the left and right lower extremity were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for hepatitis C was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is remanded due to incomplete information in his VA 21-2680 form. A new VA examination is required to determine if he meets the requirement for aid and attendance due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and thyroid disorder, finding that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected PTSD or exposure to herbicide agents.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination and insufficient medical evidence on file. The appellant's hypothyroidism may be associated with his presumed herbicide exposure, but more information is needed.

The Veteran's thyroid cancer, which occurred after his service in Vietnam and was related to herbicide exposure, is granted as service connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's throat disability and service-connected GERD, as well as the aggravation of his throat condition by GERD. The issues on appeal are related to service connection for a throat disability secondary to GERD and whether the throat disability is aggravated by GERD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service, specifically focusing on whether his in-service injuries or exposure to enemy fire caused his current health issues.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for pulmonary tuberculosis with secondary collapse of the left lower lobe was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, miliaria (chloracne), thyroid condition, heart condition, bilateral foot condition, abnormal toenail condition, and abnormal skin growth. The decision also noted that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim was not addressed as it pertained to an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's disability rating for hypothyroidism was reduced from 100% to 10%, effective November 1, 2017. The Board found that the reduction was improper and restored the original 100% rating.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism were not shown to be related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides or toxins.,The Veteran’s eye disability was not found to be secondary to his hyperthyroidism.

The Veteran's death claim for service-connected benefits was denied, and the Appellant is seeking burial benefits in an amount exceeding $2000. The Board has determined that these matters are intertwined with her request to be substituted as a claimant, so they must be remanded.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran’s CAD, valvular heart disease, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and cardiac arrest with multiple stent placements began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, so the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism. The claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and sinusitis are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for RA, parathyroidism, and sleep apnea. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to rheumatoid arthritis is denied.