Thyroid disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypothyroidism and lung cancer due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for thyroid disorder and bilateral hearing loss due to issues with the evidentiary development, including a need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypothyroidism is secondary to her PCOS. The current VA medical opinion did not consider all relevant studies and evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for thyroid cancer has been granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence was received after a final decision, allowing the reopening of this claim.,Service connection is being remanded for variously diagnosed heart disability (including pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid valve regurgitation), variously diagnosed skin disability (Chloracne), bilateral hearing loss disability, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The appeal will be returned to the Board after completion of development.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a variety of skin disabilities is being remanded due to lack of evidence related to exposure to herbicide agents. Further examination may be required to determine if any current skin disability is related to military service.

The reduction from 100 percent to 10 percent for the evaluation of status post hypothyroidism with radioactive treatment for hyperthyroidism is proper, and restoration is denied.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for interstitial lung disease, OSA, and hypothyroidism associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The case is REMANDED to determine if a compensable evaluation can be assigned for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and whether entitlement to TDIU prior to January 30, 2012, should be granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the medical opinions provided are insufficient to adjudicate the claims and requires additional examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection for various conditions, including polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), kidney condition, bilateral hip condition, thyroid condition, and gastrointestinal condition (GERD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to new evidence and conflicting medical opinions. The issues include hypothyroidism, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his service-connected hypothyroidism and its sequelae is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's initial 30% disability rating for service-connected hypothyroidism is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in service and a need for an examination to determine if his hyperparathyroidism is related to service, including any potential exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hyperparathyroidism is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected nephrolithiasis. A new VA medical opinion from an endocrinologist is needed to address this issue.

The Veteran's pituitary microadenoma and associated conditions have been rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began. The Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of myxedema, weight gain, or other specific symptoms required for higher ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disorder is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating for that disability.,Prior to June 15, 2021, the Veteran's Grave's disease was manifested by fatigability, constipation, and mental sluggishness; without muscular weakness, mental disturbance, or weight gain. A higher rating under the current criteria is not warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the rating decision and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and kidney cancer, both secondary to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection was denied for thyroid disorder as it is not related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for thyroid cancer due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Service connection for a neurological disorder of the bilateral wrists is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for thyroid disease and residuals of thyroidectomy was denied. The compensation claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the residuals of a thyroidectomy was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD, TDIU, service connection for papillary thyroid cancer and respiratory disability are all remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.