Thyroid disorder decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for thyroid, respiratory, and gastrointestinal disorders. The leg disorder claim was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a thyroid condition and type II diabetes mellitus, finding insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for Hashimotos disease (now claimed as a thyroid condition) is granted. The issue of service connection for a heart condition, to include sinus bradycardia, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for thyroid disorder, lupus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and joint pain due to exposure to environmental hazards/chemical agents in the Gulf War. Additional development is needed including obtaining private medical records, addendum opinions from appropriate clinicians, and any additional VA medical opinions deemed necessary.

The Board denied service connection for a lung disorder and thyroid condition, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The appeal is denied for the remaining issues, including high cholesterol, melanoma, hypothyroidism, peripheral neuropathy, kidney disability, heart disability, lumbar degenerative arthritis, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic stage III kidney disease and special monthly pension (SMP) have been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral arm disability, bilateral leg disability, and back disability. The appeals are granted to this extent only.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding radiation exposure and the need for an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's multinodular goiter is related to his service at Eniwetok Atoll.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing documents and a need to determine if the claim should be reopened based on new evidence or adjudicated as a de novo claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions. The issues include left leg shortening, sinusitis, rhinitis, sarcoidosis, PTSD with depression, IHD status post angioplasty, left ankle talofibular ligament rupture, hyperparathyroidism, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for thyroid cancer and asthma as they require further development due to inadequate explanations in previous VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CKD and thyroid mass are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for CKD is remanded as well, with a request for additional VA treatment records and new medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid mass is also remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's service connection for depression was granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism and the TDIU claim were both remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypothyroidism and hypertension, including as due to herbicide agent exposure, are remanded. The Board finds the Veteran has perfected his appeals for these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and hypothyroidism, both secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions on various conditions.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism status post thyroidectomy is granted a 100 percent rating from June 1, 2007. The appeal for an extension of a temporary total rating based on surgical convalescence beyond May 31, 2007 is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not result in total occupational and social impairment, but he experienced significant functional limitations. The rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent.,For the left knee strain, there is no evidence of compensable limitation beyond the minimum required by Diagnostic Code 5260 (limitation of flexion).,Similarly, for right knee strain, there is no evidence of compensable limitation beyond the minimum required by Diagnostic Code 5261 (limitation of extension).,The Veteran's hypothyroidism does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7903.,There is insufficient evidence to support service connection for COPD or Sleep Apnea.,Service connection for Chloracne was denied due to lack of nexus between current condition and in-service exposure.,No new evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for skin disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and hypothyroidism as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease due to insufficient aggravation opinions in a previous VA examination.