Thyroid disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's thyroid cancer and asthma were denied service connection as they are not related to his active duty service. The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between the disabilities and any exposure or conditions during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for thyroid disability, bone disability, and skin disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence from the Department of the Army regarding his exposure to environmental contaminants during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to issues related to service connection for thyroid disorder, prostate cancer, and degenerative bone disease. The Veteran's exposure to jet fuel, other environmental toxins, and asbestos is conceded. He claims exposure to herbicide agents while working as an aircraft mechanic and flight crew chief at Travis Air Force Base (AFB) and Dover AFB.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, resulting from a thyroidectomy due to papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, is granted as service connected based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.

The Board has remanded the cases for an adequate VA addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's thyroid disorder and esophageal cancer, as well as their relationship to service. The opinions must consider the Veteran's conceded exposure to asbestos during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residual thyroid cancer is being remanded due to incomplete development under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and thyroid disorder due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, such as Agent Orange. The Veteran's presumptive exposure is now recognized, but further VA opinions are needed to assess the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for esophageal disability, lung cancer, gallbladder disability, thyroid disability, and diabetes mellitus type II (DM) due to exposure to ionizing radiation and toxic chemicals. Additional development is needed including obtaining dose assessments based on service records, VA medical opinions regarding the relationship of these disabilities to service, and private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, benign hypertrophy of the prostate, a separately diagnosed sleep disability, hypothyroidism, urinary incontinence, and vertigo as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to military service.,The Veteran's statements regarding the onset or relationship of his disabilities to military service were not supported by medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure and obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between his conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to schedule a VA examination for heart condition, and the Veteran's failure to report for the scheduled examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran is unable to engage in sedentary employment due to these conditions.

The Board has identified several new documents in the Veteran's file and is remanding the case for readjudication, including consideration of these additional records. The claims will be returned to the RO for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical disc syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism due to insufficient evidence or data within the claims file. The Veteran's sleep disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a sleep disorder other than restless leg syndrome.

Your appeal for service connection has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with your claim as it is no longer relevant.

The Veteran's laryngeal cancer residuals are rated at 30 percent since December 10, 2019. The effective date for service connection is May 31, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid condition did not begin during his active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's thyroid cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, gout, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, prostate disorder, thyroid disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and unspecified arthritis are being remanded due to additional evidence received since the August 2019 statement of the case. The AOJ will review this new evidence in its entirety before readjudicating the claims.

The Board denied service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome and thyroid cancer, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or exposure to ionizing radiation.