Thyroid disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of thyroid disease, bladder cancer, cervical spine disability, sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's residual thyroidectomy scar is rated at a 10 percent rating, effective June 25, 2014. She also receives a separate 30 percent rating for difficulty swallowing as a disabling effect from the service-connected residual thyroidectomy scar.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination for service connection of a thyroid condition, which may be related to exposure to herbicides and/or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied service connection for various elbow, hand, hip, and shoulder disabilities as well as thyroid disability (hypothyroidism) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were present during active duty or until many years after separation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hypothyroidism status post partial thyroidectomy with hoarseness of voice is granted, and he is now rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism, finding that the Veteran's condition was caused by his treatment for hyperthyroidism after service, not due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for referral to Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular TDIU consideration prior to September 3, 2015. The Veteran's TDIU was granted on September 3, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hypothyroidism, as well as the current severity of his service-connected bilateral eye disability. The issues are still pending due to their interrelatedness with the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer and soft tissue sarcoma are not related to service, as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a thyroid disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current thyroid disorders and his military service.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism and associated ichthyosis are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Korea.

The Veteran's claims for right hand fifth finger, hypothyroidism, varicose veins, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and lumbar disability have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Board requests additional examination and opinion from qualified medical professionals.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for hypothyroidism as there is no case or controversy before the Board at this time with respect to this disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and multiple sclerosis are granted. The Board finds the evidence is in equipoise regarding her diabetes mellitus and hypertension, but these issues have been remanded as VA examinations and medical opinions are needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's thyroid cancer, which is related to his service in Vietnam and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions based on radiation exposure due to a duty-to-assist error in not obtaining occupational radiation exposure records from the Veteran's military units.

Service connection granted for Grave's disease (hypothyroidism) and readjudication of the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is required. Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder (arthritis), and obstructive sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to outstanding treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has denied service connection for benign essential tremor, thyroid cancer, and hypothyroidism as the evidence does not support a link to military service.