Thyroid disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for thyroid disability and hypertension, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or herbicide exposure. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral knee arthralgia and chondromalacia, migraines, right great toe fracture, and denied service connection for hypothyroidism. The decision also remanded issues related to service connection for other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain employment that could be considered substantially gainful, and the Board has granted his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for various acquired psychiatric, cardiac, erectile dysfunction, thyroid, sleep apnea, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disorders was denied. The Board found no current disabilities in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional action, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various conditions are being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being returned to the RO for completion of the development directed by the Board in its last remand. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, and hypothyroidism; rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthrosis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to May 26, 2017 and to a rating higher than 40 percent thereafter; service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity; an effective date earlier than August 19, 2011, for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity; and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his thyroid condition had its onset in, or is otherwise caused by, his military service, including environmental exposures during service in Uzbekistan.

The Board has remanded the case due to new research supporting a change in the strength of association between herbicide agent exposure and hypothyroidism, requiring further examination and medical opinion.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for hypothyroidism. The Veteran's lay statements and Agent Orange medical literature indicate a possible nexus to service, but there is also conflicting evidence from an earlier endocrinology consultation indicating no relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar and lower extremity conditions, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. As a result, SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the abdominal aortic aneurysm as it was not perfected by the Veteran's substantive appeal. The larynx cancer claim is still pending and will be decided in a separate Board decision under the modernized appeal stream.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and remanded the claim of service connection for papillary thyroid carcinoma due to radiation exposure. The claims are currently pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran failed to attend his scheduled VA examinations and has provided good cause for missing them. As such, new VA examinations are necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid, as there is insufficient evidence regarding its cause and whether it was substantially or materially contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for interstitial lung disease, hypothyroidism (claimed as a thyroid condition secondary to agent orange exposure), posttraumatic stress disorder, keratoacanthoma, basal cell carcinomas, seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis (pre-cancerous skin lesions), and right sciatic nerve condition associated with low back strain. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for COD and DIC benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current thyroid disorder is related to his in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fractured jaw with loss of teeth has been denied as new and material evidence was not received. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, hypothyroidism, left inner ear condition, right inner ear condition, and skin condition have all been remanded due to the need for further development.,The Veteran's depressive disorder has been rated at 30 percent from January 27, 2011 to August 21, 2018 and at 70 percent thereafter. The claims for service connection for anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, hypothyroidism, left inner ear condition, right inner ear condition, and skin condition have all been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's thyroid disability is granted service connection as it is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The anxiety disorder claim remains pending and will need further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded several rating matters related to the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine conditions, upper and lower extremity radiculopathies, neurogenic bladder, and erectile dysfunction. The issues of effective dates for service connection are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding service connection for hypothyroidism, specifically related to ionizing radiation exposure. The Veteran needs an examination and a new nexus opinion considering his claims file and a specific article.