Thyroid disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for Grave's disease, Graves' eye disease, and hypothyroidism due to Agent Orange exposure. However, the claims are remanded as new evidence is insufficient to establish a direct nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, Hypertension, and Thyroid Disorder due to additional development needed. The issues of service connection are related as they involve overlapping conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism caused or aggravated his type II diabetes mellitus, and if so, whether his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities also contributed to his obesity and diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional examination to determine if the Veteran's obesity is a substantial factor in causing her hypothyroidism and whether her service-connected disabilities have aggravated or caused her hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a thyroid disorder is granted. The appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his thyroid disorder, sleep apnea, and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for service-connected hypothyroidism is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a proper VA examination.

Service connection is granted for prostate cancer, hypothyroidism, and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide agent exposure.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression) is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for throat cancer, loss of taste, sinusitis, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to secondary service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim for hypothyroidism is granted as it falls under a presumptive disease associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for thyroid cancer and depression due to incomplete development. The thyroid cancer claim is related to exposure at Camp Lejeune, while the depression claim may be secondary to thyroid cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of thyroid cancer and kidney cancer due to inadequate VA opinions and the need for additional medical records. The claims are related to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, but has remanded the issue of chronic thyroiditis due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is found to have started during her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism due to herbicide agent exposure. The remaining issues of service connection for hepatitis C, upper gastrointestinal disorder, and gallstones are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began during service and has continued since separation. Service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia with urinary obstruction and urinary frequency, diabetes mellitus, type II, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), thyroid disorder, and heart disability were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hyperthyroidism, a chronic disability manifested by diarrhea, neck condition, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right knee degenerative arthritis, and right ankle osteoarthritis.,Service connection is remanded for left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss (BHL), diabetes, hypertension, kidney condition, residuals of a pilonidal sinus cyst, and bilateral foot condition.

The Board denied service connection for trachea and thyroid cancers due to radiation exposure, as well as sleep apnea secondary to these conditions. The decision found no evidence of in-service exposure to ionizing radiation or direct causation by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied because he was not in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling at the time of his death. The cause of death appeal is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's fatal arrhythmia and myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to his service-connected hypothyroidism, is granted and rated at 60 percent. The Veteran's increased rating claim for hypothyroidism is granted with a 60 percent rating effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a fractured left cheek bone remains denied.

The Veteran's allergic conjunctivitis is granted a 10 percent evaluation for the entire period on appeal. Service connection for bone loss and COPD are denied, while service connection for allergy shot residuals including food allergies and thyroid disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for hypothyroidism and an initial compensable disability rating for constipation associated with hypothyroidism due to conflicting VA examination findings and the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain but denied service connection for hypothyroidism. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the remaining issues.