Thyroid disorder decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of thyroid cancer, status post thyroidectomy, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his presumed herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected conditions contributed to his suicide. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches with photophobia and aura, back disability, Raynaud’s disease, right lower extremity neuropathy or restless leg syndrome, left lower extremity neuropathy or restless leg syndrome, thyroid disability, and abnormal weight fluctuation.,The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, sleep disability, and skin disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were granted. The claim for service connection for hypothyroidism was remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unresolved issues and need for further examination. The claims include psychiatric, sinus, atrial fibrillation, lung disability, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hemithyroidectomy, including thyroid cancer, and degenerative disc disease of the lower back is granted. The claims for these conditions are reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial in 1991.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board found that his osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cataracts, psoriasis arthritis, and hypothyroidism due to exposure to radiation. The RO is instructed to conduct further development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure and provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism, claimed as due to exposure to herbicide agent (Agent Orange), is being remanded. The VA has not provided a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the disability and thus needs to arrange for an examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of narcolepsy and remanded several other issues including sleep apnea, hypertension, hepatitis C, chronic kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate gland, thyroid dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's right knee medial collateral ligament strain was granted an increased rating to 10% effective May 9, 2011.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism with bradycardia was granted an increased rating to 30% effective May 9, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid cancer and increased ratings for PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lipomas of the upper extremities, thyroid disorder, and paresthesia of the face. The decision also noted that an increase rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for papillary thyroid carcinoma is being remanded due to the need for further examination and information regarding his exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran was granted effective dates of August 5, 2014 for service connection and a disability rating for right shoulder arthritis, scar status post-surgical repair right shoulder, and post-surgical residuals right shoulder. The claims were denied for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, left shoulder disorder, lung disorder, thyroid disorder, and headache disorder (secondary to service-connected disability).,The effective dates of August 5, 2014 are granted for the grants of service connection and a disability rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a sinus disability, sleep apnea, thyroid disability, prostate disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder and PTSD) as the evidence does not support their onset during active service or a direct relationship to such.,There is no evidence of any in-service stressors related to the Veteran's claimed workplace stressors.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, and right foot disorder. Service connection was granted for depression and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).,Service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was previously denied in 2010 and not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran and a request for a VA dose estimate.

The appeal for service connection of hypertrophy of the prostate, due to exposure to herbicide agents, has been withdrawn and is dismissed. The thyroid disability claim remains pending.