Thyroid disorder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's thyroid disorder has been controlled with continuous medication. During the appeal period, there were no symptoms of fatigability, constipation, and mental sluggishness attributable to his thyroid disorder. Therefore, he is not entitled to a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral pes planus have been reopened. The claim of nutritional deficiency, skin disorders, anemia, eye disorder, and headaches secondary to hypothyroidism are also being remanded.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran’s low back disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the level of ionizing radiation exposure and whether asbestos exposure is a known cause of thyroid cancer.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for hypothyroidism as requested by the Veteran. The case is remanded to issue a statement of the case regarding the rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's mental confusion and thyroid condition are not service-connected. The thyroid condition is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding herbicide exposure.

The appeal for service connection for a heart condition is dismissed as the Veteran has already been granted service connection. Service connection for hypothyroidism, claimed as Graves' disease, is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection for hypothyroidism, which is also presumed related to herbicide exposure, is remanded.

The Veteran's death was caused by anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid, which is service-connected as it occurred during his active duty and is not related to any exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board granted the claim for cause of death.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for hypothyroidism, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to the need for further development and examination. The issues include cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and knee disabilities; TBI, sleep disorder, memory loss, cognitive problems, headaches, mood swings, and concentration/decreased focus issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and remanded other issues including rating increases, effective date determinations, and service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to scheduling issues with VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea, thyroid disability (to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents), and hypertension for further development.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid disorder and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service or exposure to environmental hazards.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, as well as the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Institute of Medicine's Veterans and AO: Update 2014 that concluded there is 'limited or suggestive evidence' of an association between hypothyroidism and herbicide. The Board also found it necessary to seek out private treatment records from Dr. L. and Dr. D.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's presumed herbicide exposure during service. The claims will be reviewed again with a focus on whether thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism, and scar residuals are related to service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from maintaining gainful employment effective from March 30, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations of fibromyalgia and chronic constipation was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.,Service connection for hypothyroidism was also denied.