Thyroid disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues, including whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions. The TDIU claim is also being reconsidered.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of skin cancer and thyroid disorder. The issues have been remanded due to the need for further evidence regarding the alleged exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of thyroid cancer, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's active duty service and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and hypothyroidism, as well as his initial disability ratings for IHD and an anxiety disorder. The appeals are also remanded to determine if he is capable of substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypoparathyroidism is granted as a result of the April 2009 parathyroidectomy, which was performed negligently without intraoperative PTH monitoring equipment.

The Board has denied service connection for lung disorder, pancreatic disorder, liver disorder, and gynecomastia. The Veteran's thyroid disorder and brain disorder claims are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of a salivary gland condition, genitourinary condition (including benign prostatic hypertrophy), and pneumonia. Service connection was granted for hypothyroidism, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), septoplasty, uvulopalatoplasty and turbinate cauterization, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected vitiligo.

The Board has granted service connection for a non-malignant thyroid nodule, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the condition is related to the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for residuals of Agent Orange exposure, including peripheral neuropathy and tremors. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 10 percent for hypothyroidism has been granted, effective April 22, 2011. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence to support earlier effective dates.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, heart disability, hypothyroidism, bilateral lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, sleep apnea, and bilateral cataracts due to exposure to non-ionizing radiation from radar equipment. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and retinopathy are being remanded due to the need to verify in-service herbicide agent exposure.,A new claim of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a link between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. Service connection is therefore denied.,Service connection was denied for hypothyroidism as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year thereafter. The Veteran's claim for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma has also been denied due to lack of a diagnosis in service or soon after discharge.,The Veteran's Peyronie’s disease claim remains pending, with the Board finding that current evidence does not support a diagnosis in service or shortly after separation from active duty.,Service connection was denied for allergic rhinitis as there is no evidence of obstruction meeting the criteria set forth in VA's rating schedule. The Veteran's request for an increased disability rating remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's thyroid cancer, which is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for blood clots, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral vascular disease are remanded due to the need for additional development.,These issues involve claims based on exposure to microwaves, but no specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism on a presumptive basis as the evidence is at least evenly balanced that the Veteran's condition manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervicitis was previously denied in September 2004 and has not been reopened.,High cholesterol is not a disability for VA compensation purposes, thus the claim for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (to include depression) is remanded. The examiner should determine if her current diagnosis of depression is related to active duty service or service-connected PTSD and/or asthma.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heavy menstrual bleeding is remanded. The examiner should determine if the Veteran has a currently diagnosed condition that is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or more) due to her active military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism and bilateral eye disability are both remanded. The examiner should provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service or service-connected PTSD/asthma, respectively.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability is also remanded. The examiner should determine if her current condition is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or more) caused by her service-connected asthma.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation in service, which is necessary for determining if his thyroid cancer is related to service.

The Board has denied an increased rating for right knee chondromalacia and has remanded the issues of service connection for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, breast cancer, and SMC for anatomical loss of breast tissue.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed disabilities, including multiple myeloma and diabetes mellitus type II, are not related to an undiagnosed illness or a Gulf War syndrome. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions have known etiologies unrelated to service.