Thyroid disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism was denied because the earliest date of receipt of a claim is December 29, 2004. The effective date cannot be prior to this date as there were no claims filed before that time.

The Board has identified errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist and has ordered additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and hypothyroidism, finding no evidence of in-service disease or injury, lack of exposure to herbicides during service, and insufficient medical evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid carcinoma is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his active service, including exposure to herbicide agents, and his thyroid cancer.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism s/p right thyroid lobectomy is presumed to be related to herbicide agents during his active military service and manifested to a compensable degree following service, thus granting the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for thyroid cancer, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his military service is related to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new information suggesting a possible link between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his claimed conditions. The Veteran will need to undergo further examination to determine if these conditions are related.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma as secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for a kidney condition, POEMS syndrome, and thyroid condition as secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are also granted.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hypothyroidism from December 14, 2017 to the present is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case will be returned for a VA examination.

The Veteran's GERD is granted an initial rating of 30 percent.,The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine is granted a rating of 20 percent, effective November 30, 2020.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is denied any increase in rating beyond 10 percent.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism is denied any increase in rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding when the Veteran's BPPV manifested and how long it had been a problem, as well as whether it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, prostate disability (BPH), and thyroid disability (hypothyroidism) due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Additional development is required including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for VA examinations.

Effective September 30, 2014, a higher rating of 10 percent for Grave's disease status post iodine therapy (thyroid disability) is granted.,From November 24, 2017, a rating higher than 30 percent for thyroid disability is denied.

The Veteran's thyroid condition, including hypothyroidism and benign neoplasm of the thyroid, is remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his military service, specifically his presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between his condition and military service, including radiation exposure.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and right lower extremity sciatica have been dismissed as the Veteran has not appealed the effective date or rating assigned. The claim for thyroid cancer is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the October 2021 rating decision and the need for updated court findings. The Veteran's disability claims are also being reviewed.

Service connection is granted for a thyroid disability and tuberculosis, both claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure during service.