Thyroid disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination regarding service connection claims for thyroid disease, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and eye disability. The Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation during his active duty.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for dry mouth and loss of sense of taste, and residuals of a menstrual disorder (including hysterectomy) are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of thyroid disorder, respiratory disorder, and gastrointestinal disorder prior to January 17, 2018. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 17, 2018 is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism is denied because there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to unclear dates of service and need for clarification regarding diagnoses and opinions provided in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of Agent Orange exposure and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD secondary to PTSD was denied.,Service connection for hypothyroidism, colon polyps, and adrenal disability due to exposure to ionizing radiation is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 40 percent for fibromyalgia is denied. The appeals for service connection for deviated septum, hand arthritis, foot arthritis, right knee disorder, rib pain, positive ANA, thyroid disorder, and gum surgery are dismissed. The appeal for a higher initial rating for painful scars, right breast, is also dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for cold injury residuals to the feet due to lack of current diagnosis. The case is remanded for further examination and consideration of other issues including PTSD, thyroid disability, and hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Hypothyroidism as there is no current evidence of a disability, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for an endocrine disorder, including diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism, finding no evidence of a nexus between the disorders and active service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorder, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology, and rejecting the claim based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease) due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the likely etiology of the condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Thyroid Disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a relationship to his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's back disability, not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service, is denied.,A current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes has not been shown.,The Veteran’s tinnitus, not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service, is denied.,The competent and credible evidence does not reflect a diagnosis of cataracts.,The Veteran's hypertension, not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service, is denied.,The competent and credible evidence does not reflect a diagnosis of sickle cell anemia.,The competent and credible evidence does not reflect a diagnosis of a sinus disability.,The Veteran’s thyroid disability, not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service, is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to a lack of recent medical evidence and because the issues are inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and the contribution of service-connected diabetes mellitus. The appellant's claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is also pending.

The Board has remanded cases for further development regarding service connection for benign essential tremor, thyroid cancer, and hypothyroidism due to potential exposure to chemicals and ionizing radiation during basic training at Fort McClellan.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of rectal cancer, low back condition, and parathyroid condition. The conditions were not found to be related to service or due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has found the private medical opinions inadequate and remanded for a VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's cause of death is related to his exposure to herbicide agents. The appeal is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.