Thyroid disorder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thyroid disorder, cardiac disability, arrhythmia, basal cell carcinoma, and sleep apnea have all been granted. The lumbar spine disability claim has not been resolved.

The Board has denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and parathyroidism, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain additional service records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the respiratory disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disorder, hypertension, and hypothyroid disorder. The issues have been remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a kidney disorder, anemia, and hyperparathyroidism due to inadequate development of the record and the need for a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's conditions, particularly his PAN. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for PAN.

The Board denied service connection for non-malignant thyroid nodular disease, finding that the evidence did not support a link to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation and that the disability was not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with previous remand instructions regarding exposure to ionizing radiation. The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hashimoto's thyroiditis is now before the AOJ for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his thyroid cancer is at least as likely as not related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PRV, psoriatic arthritis, a parathyroid tumor, gum disease, gout, peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities due to insufficient evidence in the August 2017 VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, secondary to hypothyroidism, is also granted. The claim for service connection for anemia remains pending as it is not listed among the diseases presumed related to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin rash, thyroid condition, and throat condition. The claims are remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, residuals of cholecystectomy (removal of gallbladder), and thyroid disability, to include Grave's disease and hypothyroidism. Service connection was denied for hypertension and psoriasis.

The Veteran's appeal is granted for an earlier effective date of August 1, 2016 for the 60 percent rating currently assigned for hypothyroidism under Diagnostic Code 7903. The issues of a rating in excess of 60 percent for hypothyroidism and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's vertigo, diagnosed as BPPV, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service. The Board affirms the denial of service connection for vertigo.,Service connection for hypothyroidism status post thyroidectomy is denied because it was due to an intercurrent cause (the thyroidectomy). Service connection for a cervical spine disorder and erectile dysfunction are remanded as they may be related to service-connected disabilities. The umbilical hernia claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's disability rating for follicular thyroid cancer status post total thyroidectomy, with syncopal episodes, was restored to 30 percent effective August 22, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active service or exposure to ionizing radiation. The preponderance of the evidence did not support the claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as the opinions provided were inadequate. The Veteran is seeking service connection for low testosterone, prostate disability, and hypothyroidism due to radiation exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hypothyroidism secondary to Grave's disease is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and hypothyroidism, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active service.