Thyroid disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypothyroidism is at least as likely as not due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied service connection for hyperthyroidism and a back condition as there is no current diagnosis of either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and related conditions render him unemployable, but the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including anxiety and PTSD, GERD, hypothyroidism, joint pain, a low back condition, and neck sprain are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA will seek verification of the Veteran's in-service stressor events.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an effective date prior to January 29, 2021 for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance/housebound criteria are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism and ischemic heart disease, finding that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions or their relationship to service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in service was conceded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him so helpless that he requires personal assistance from others, and the Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, MGUS, and prostate cancer. Service connection is remanded for thyroid disorder, multiple sclerosis (MS), neurological disorder claimed as Parkinson's disease, GERD, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hand arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of the Veteran's statements and medical treatment records regarding his thyroid disorder. The claims for both thyroid disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer is due to presumed in-service herbicide exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for hypertension, hypothyroidism, carpal tunnel syndrome, tuberculosis, bilateral pes planus, and hyperlipidemia are all granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for multiple sclerosis and Hashimoto's disease (also claimed as Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism) before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability rating for hypothyroidism was denied as the condition does not meet the criteria for a 30% or higher rating under Diagnostic Criteria (DC) 7903, due to lack of myxedema symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal of the timeliness issue is granted, and his underlying legacy claim for service connection for thyroid cancer is reinstated due to reasonable doubt being resolved in his favor.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking service connection for a thyroid disability, including hypothyroidism during the July 2023 Board hearing. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis (non-A, non-B), right pyelonephritis, ectopic pregnancy and its residuals, and hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease).,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or chronic condition for any of the conditions in question.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for thyroid cancer due to the appellant's withdrawal request prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right papillary thyroid carcinoma and entitlement to TDIU due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from June 27, 2022 is moot as she has a combined disability rating of 100%.,Prior to June 27, 2022, the Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because her employment status does not indicate marginal or unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient compliance with previous directives, requiring additional medical opinions regarding exposure to toxins during firefighting duties.