Thyroid disorder decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for azotemia and TDIU due to lack of current diagnosis.,The Veteran's attorney argued that the Veteran has symptoms consistent with azotemia, but VA examiners did not find a current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal disability, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, left knee disability, right knee disability, vertigo, and hypothyroidism, all presumed to be related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims were remanded for additional development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as service connection claims for hypothyroidism, GERD, a low back disability, left and right elbow degenerative joint disease, gout (claimed as bilateral foot disability), COPD, kidney, and prostate disabilities. The Board has also dismissed the Veteran's appeals of these issues due to his withdrawal of them.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.,Service connection was also denied for gastritis, GERD, skin condition, and thyroid condition as there is no medical evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, hypothyroidism, anemia, diabetes mellitus, and back disability. The Veteran's skin condition is considered to be related to his active service. His hypothyroidism, anemia, diabetes mellitus, and back disability are not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for retroactive CRDP from August 1, 2012 through January 1, 2016 is denied as he was not entitled to payment prior to August 1, 2012 and has separately received payment after that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for a portion of the appeal period, specifically April 2011 to December 2012. The Board granted TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypothyroidism due to herbicide exposure is granted.,Service connection for hyperlipidemia (claimed as cholesterol) and hypertension are both remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral sensory polyneuropathy with restless leg syndrome is currently rated at 40 percent prior to August 1, 2019 and 60 percent from August 1, 2019. The Veteran's hypothyroidism is not service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral sensory polyneuropathy with restless leg syndrome was rated at 40 percent prior to August 1, 2019 and 60 percent from August 1, 2019. The Veteran's hypothyroidism is not service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's multinodular goiter, including her service connection and exposure to ionizing radiation. Additional medical review is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to September 25, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable rating, as there have not been substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding obtaining treatment records.

The Veteran's cardiac condition, skin condition, respiratory condition, thyroid condition, and bilateral hearing loss are all remanded for further development.,The claims for service connection for the Veteran’s heart condition, skin condition, respiratory condition, thyroid condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to herbicide exposure or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's thyroid condition is related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors after the October 2020 Board remand but prior to the issuance of the December 2020 supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) that denied an increased rating for iatrogenic hypothyroidism. The AOJ should obtain new TSH and T4 tests for the Veteran, add them to the claims file, and then obtain an additional addendum medical opinion from the same examiner.

The Board has restored the 60 percent rating for hypothyroidism but has remanded both issues of entitlement to a higher rating and TDIU due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the claims for thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism, seizure disorder, angioedema, and parathyroid adenoma due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran's conditions are related to her thyroid lobectomies in July 2012 and April 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current symptoms, level of severity, and functional impairment associated with the Veteran's thyroid disability under both old and current rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not begin during or within one year after separation from service and is not related to any incident of service, including radiation exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for hypothyroidism and hypertension as these conditions clearly and unmistakably existed prior to the Veteran's second period of active duty and were not aggravated by that service.