Thyroid disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including anxiety, hip and knee disabilities, and hypothyroidism, have rendered her in need of regular aid and attendance due to her functional impairments. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's dizziness, insomnia disorder, and IBS have not been found to be related to her service. The right eye scratch and right shoulder pain are presumed to be related to the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. Hyperactive thyroidism is presumed due to the Veteran's service.,The Veteran's insomnia disorder does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it does not interfere with her occupational or social functioning.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for hypothyroidism and erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer are remanded as there is insufficient evidence of a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid cancer, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by ionizing radiation exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were denied for hearing loss, PTSD, and hypertension. The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia was granted.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to her service-connected conditions, including hypothyroidism and GERD. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the thyroid condition, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and stroke claim. Additionally, new evidence must be evaluated regarding previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was granted. The claims for prostate cancer, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, right eye residuals of pterygium, left eye residuals of pterygium, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and abdominal pain were all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for a higher rating for inhomogeneous echotexture of the thyroid gland with bilateral nodules due to inadequate examination findings and the need for additional evidence. The Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism is also noted, but no specific exposure basis or PACT Act reference was provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for thyroid cancer and esophageal cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation during military service. The Veteran's left shoulder disability rating claim is also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as mental health condition), skin condition, and hypothyroidism. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a thyroid condition (hyperthyroidism and Graves Disease) and a cervical spine condition. These issues are being remanded due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.,Regarding the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 100 percent for PTSD, her symptoms have been found to warrant such a rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart and thyroid disabilities due to herbicide exposure, as there is insufficient information to request verification of herbicide agent exposure from the Joint Services Records Research Center.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The appeal seeking entitlement to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is dismissed. The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for thyroid cancer, sleep apnea, arthritis, and a prostate condition is also dismissed.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism was granted service connection as it manifested within a year of separation from service and is an endocrine disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed service connection for thyroid cancer, including verification of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and radiation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thyroid condition, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's hypertension, chronic bronchitis, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, colonic polyps, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gout, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, dermatophytosis of toe nails, and tinea pedis are being remanded for further development as they may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development. The issues include psychiatric disorder, Fuch’s corneal dystrophy with steroid responder (claimed as vision disorder), hypertension, and hypothyroidism.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all the listed conditions, and thus the Board dismisses these claims.

The Veteran's papillary cancer of the thyroid is related to service exposure to Agent Orange while in Vietnam, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.