Thyroid disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease due to Gulf War service was granted. Service connection is also granted for chronic fatigue syndrome, but only as secondary to the already established service-connected thyroid condition.

The Veteran's lung disability (mediastinal calcification) is not related to service, and the heart disability (hypertension) is due to service.,Service connection for a cardiovascular disability including hypertension has been granted. The issue of service connection for hypothyroidism remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding whether the Veteran's hypothyroidism was aggravated by service. The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from the January 2018 examiner or another endocrinology physician, if necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, adenocarcinoma of the palate, tongue and salivary gland, digestive system deficiency to include GERD and requirement for nasogastric tube, and hypothyroidism have all been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a separate compensable rating for adenocarcinoma beyond April 1, 2004, as there was no recurrence or metastasis of the cancer. An initial rating in excess of 50 percent for digestive system deficiency has been granted, but the Veteran's hypothyroidism remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid cancer, including as due to ionizing radiation exposure, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between the condition and service. The Veteran's in-service exposure to ionizing radiation was found insufficient to cause health effects.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of hyperthyroidism before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hyperthyroidism as secondary to her service-connected hyperprolactinemia, finding that there was no evidence linking the hyperthyroidism to military service or being caused by her service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a thyroid disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hypothyroidism to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to February 2007 for a 10% rating for hypothyroidism was dismissed as she did not present a valid claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's death may be related to his service, specifically his exposure to ionizing radiation. However, further development is needed to determine if he was indeed exposed during service and what dose of radiation he received.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a thyroid disorder due to new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to prostate cancer, thyroid condition, bilateral cataracts disability, respiratory condition (blood clots in the lungs), bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder, left corneal dystrophy, hypertension, hernia condition, residuals of gallbladder removal, and residuals of electric shock. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete or inaccurate factual bases for previous opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder was granted in a May 2019 rating decision. The claims for inflammation of the joints, chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, elevated white cell blood count (WCB) and chronic blood disorder, lymphedema, postsurgical hypothyroidism, residuals of radiation exposure, sleep apnea, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee pain are all remanded.

Service connection for tension headaches is granted as they are secondary to service-connected psychiatric and right shoulder disabilities.,High cholesterol is not considered a disability for VA purposes, so the claim for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoporosis, underactive thyroid disease, a testicular disability, and Addison's disease have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea has been remanded due to the lack of a VA medical opinion addressing in-service onset and potential herbicide agent exposure. The esophageal cancer claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of development regarding exposure to ionizing radiation. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being returned for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, thyroid condition, left knee condition, and hypertension due to unclear opinions regarding presumed herbicide exposure. The Veteran's left knee condition is also being remanded for a new opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II, hypothyroidism, and stomach tumor (also claimed as stomach ulcer) are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for atypical migraine headaches, service connection for a right arm disability and thyroid condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient reasoning and lack of clarity in the October 2019 addendum opinion. The Veteran's thyroid condition is related to his exposure to chemical solvents, but the causal link between TCE and thyroid cancer remains unclear. Sleep apnea is secondary to Hashimoto's thyroiditis with papillary carcinoma.