Thyroid disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for hypothyroidism is denied. The Board found that there was no formal or informal claim for the period prior to August 21, 2014 and that it is not factually ascertainable that her hypothyroidism was 100% disabling prior to this date.

The Board has withdrawn the claims of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, higher disability ratings for painful scars and right knee, and an initial compensable disability rating for hemorrhoids.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a finger condition is reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board denied entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran was granted service connection for hypothyroidism and bilateral eye vitreous floaters due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand.,Service connection for Parkinsonism with essential tremors (previously claimed as Parkinson's disease) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for hypothyroidism, infertility, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The AOJ previously denied these claims due to lack of verified herbicide exposure. The Board finds new evidence submitted since previous decisions is relevant and sufficient to permit readjudication. However, additional remand is required to verify the Veteran's reported in-service exposure to various hazardous materials at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypothyroidism is related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right leg, left leg, and psychiatric disabilities. The issues of service connection for recurrent sleep disability (obstructive sleep apnea) and thyroid disability have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric condition, and hypothyroidism due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran testified that his conditions are related to service-connected sleep apnea syndromes.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's hypothyroidism.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypothyroidism did not have its onset during her period of active service and is therefore denied. The issues of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bilateral leg disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neck disability, lower back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, cervicitis, endometriosis, and residuals of a hysterectomy are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for an updated VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and hypothyroidism. The examiner must consider various medical articles discussing associations between OSA and psychiatric conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the service connection claims due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities results in loss of use of his feet, which meets the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate clarification of her hypothyroidism and unobtained Tricare private endocrinologist records.

The Veteran's ocular cicatricial pemphigoid with severe vision loss is granted as service connected due to exposure to carbon tetrachloride in service. The issues of service connection for residuals of skin cancer, bladder cancer, thyroid cancer, and chronic pancreatitis are remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left ankle disability, presumed due to undiagnosed illness, is denied.,The Veteran's right elbow disability, presumed due to undiagnosed illness, is denied.,The Veteran's left elbow disability, presumed due to undiagnosed illness, is denied.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism, presumed due to undiagnosed illness, is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis. The cases of scarring of the lung, tumor of the left thigh, and hyperthyroidism are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees is granted. The appeal regarding service connection for thyroid cancer is remanded.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to his service-connected hypothyroidism, which contributed substantially to his death. The appeal for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as the grant of service connection for the cause of death renders it moot. Accrued benefits are denied because no benefits were due and unpaid at the time of the Veteran's death.