Thyroid disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the cases of hypothyroidism and left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's thyroid disorder had an in-service onset, as well as her contentions regarding in-service symptoms potentially representing an onset of the condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted for hypothyroidism, TBI residuals, headaches secondary to TBI, nystagmus secondary to TBI, vertigo secondary to TBI, lower back strain, and broken teeth. The claim for service connection for anemia is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and brain tumor due to potential exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune. The Veteran's claim is being reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has found that there is not substantial compliance with previous remand directives and another remand is required for further development, including verification of herbicide exposure in Okinawa and obtaining new medical opinions.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus (type II), and skin condition has been granted.,The claim of service connection for an eating disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for bilateral exophthalmos with dry eye and residuals of hyperthyroidism (to include hypothyroidism) are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's thyroid disability is causally related to her in-service childbirth complications, including preeclampsia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence and need for further development. The claims include prostate cancer, hyperthyroidism, erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate cancer), TBI, and depression.

The Veteran withdrew both issues on appeal, so the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's initial 10% rating for service-connected hypothyroidism is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of new rating criteria.

The Veteran's service connection claims for OSA, headaches, and hyperthyroidism with RLS are granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The claims for gastroenteritis, sinusitis, and hypertension were denied.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development and review.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is being reviewed to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability (Chronic Adjustment Disorder).,The matter of whether the Veteran's Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (manifesting as memory loss) is secondary to his newly service-connected psychiatric disability will be submitted for review.,The Board has remanded several claims related to sleep apnea and its relationship to the Veteran's service-connected inguinal hernia and surgical scar.,Several skin disorder claims are being reviewed, including whether they are secondary to exposure to herbicide agents or other chemicals.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is being reviewed for secondary service connection based on his service-connected inguinal hernia and/or exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim is also being reviewed for secondary service connection based on his service-connected inguinal hernia and/or exposure to herbicide agents.,Several other claims are being remanded, including those related to sleep apnea, memory loss, skin disorders, heart disorder, sinus disorder, left shoulder disorder, gout, knee disorder, leg disorder, visual disorder, prostate disorder, foot disorder, and thyroid disorder.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being reviewed.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism is presumed due to herbicide exposure. The eye disability, adrenal gland tumor, and tumor neoplasm of the right side are not service-connected as they were not shown during service or related to any service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for left inguinal hernia due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service, including ionizing radiation exposure. Service connection was granted for hypothyroidism based on presumed service connection due to radiation exposure during active duty.,Service connection for left inguinal hernia is denied as there is no evidence that the current condition is related to service or ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid cancer as the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between the condition and active duty, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and levator dehiscence of the left eye, as well as his request for TDIU prior to September 21, 2012, have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service or to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism has been rated at 100 percent since the onset of her condition, with symptoms including cold intolerance, muscular weakness, cardiovascular involvement (bradycardia), mental disturbance (depression and memory impairment), fatigue, and weight loss. The Board granted a higher rating based on these findings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disability, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his military service.