Thyroid disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted, as well as his claims for skin disorder (rosacea) and hypothyroidism. However, the issue of service connection for hypothyroidism is being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.,Obstructive Sleep Apnea is found to be at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by weight gain resulting from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident during service and consequent service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for obesity, also claimed as hypothyroidism, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). As a result, the Board dismissed these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his thyroid condition, bilateral eye condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus type II, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has remanded the case for clarification of his employment history during the appeal period and for an opinion on the functional impairment caused by these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hyperthyroidism, finding no endocrine system injury or disease during service and no chronic symptoms of hyperthyroidism. The Board also found that the current hyperthyroidism is not causally related to service.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU prior to December 31, 2017 and initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for service connection for euthyroid multinodular goiter with enlarged gland was also denied due to lack of evidence connecting the condition to service.

The Veteran's thyroid disabilities, other than hypothyroidism, are presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. However, the claim for service connection of these conditions is remanded as VA has not provided an examination to determine if they are related to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding exposure to chemical agents at Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas. Additional addendum opinions are needed from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypothyroidism is granted as it is presumed related to herbicide agent exposure during his Vietnam-era service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher ratings have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as moot due to a recent grant in an April 2022 rating decision. Service connection was granted for hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic kidney disease, and PTSD was rated at 70 percent disabling. The appeals for melanoma, lumbar degenerative arthritis, and hypothyroidism were also addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's thyroiditis was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic thyroid condition in the 40 years since separation from military service. The Board found that his current thyroid disabilities are not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, chronic fatigue and weakness due to thyroidectomy residuals, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral tinnitus, and migraine headaches disorder.,There is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or causal connections between the Veteran's claimed conditions and her active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back disability, hypothyroidism, cataracts of the eyes, hypertension, bilateral eye diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and depression, as they were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lower pole thyroid hyperfunctioning adenoma prior to November 1, 2021 was denied. The RO reduced the Veteran's disability rating from 10 percent to noncompensable effective November 1, 2021.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection for various conditions as the appellant has withdrawn them.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right papillary thyroid carcinoma, status post excision and radioactive ablation, requires a new VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and thyroid condition are remanded due to the need for a VA examination, given the National Academy of Medicine's update on herbicide exposure and its association with these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the thyroid condition, and the Board dismissed it.