Thyroid disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to hypothyroidism, which was found to be a result of his active military service and presumed exposure to herbicides. Hypothyroidism is considered a contributory cause of death.

The Board has dismissed all the Veteran's claims as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's thyroid disorder, which may be related to service or intercurrent treatment. The claim will be reconsidered with a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are granted. The claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is remanded. The claim for service connection for hypothyroidism is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim has not met the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's current hypothyroidism is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service, and this benefit is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Board will attempt to verify whether the planes that operated on the USS Coral Sea landed in or near Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to potential eligibility for SMC under certain criteria. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated in detail.

The Board has granted service connection for colon cancer, but remanded the issue of service connection for thyroid cancer due to potential exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for bladder cancer and hypothyroidism/thyroid cancer, both presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. Service connection for COPD is denied.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and insomnia due to insufficient evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid and brain disabilities are not related to his service at Camp Lejeune, including exposure to contaminated water. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and hip disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service, but the nexus between current disabilities and service remains unclear.

The Veteran's current hypothyroidism is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service, and this benefit is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease, finding that there is no relationship between these conditions and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board also found that secondary service connection was not warranted.

The Veteran's current hypothyroidism is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service, and this benefit is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid condition, including hyperthyroidism, as related to exposure to ionizing radiation due to lack of evidence showing direct causation and failure to meet presumptive criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer is related to ionizing radiation exposure during his military service in Germany following the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and thyroid cancer due to incomplete personnel records from the Veteran's service in the Army National Guard.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's service was dishonorable, which means he does not have status as a veteran. Therefore, his claims for service connection for nonalcoholic steatosis hepatitis, thyroid disability, diabetes mellitus, and multiple hemangiomas are denied.