Thyroid disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected chronic kidney disease.,Service connection for hypothyroidism is granted due to exposure during service, not a preexisting condition.,Bilateral cataracts are denied as the evidence does not show they are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to insufficient assistance in obtaining private treatment records and an inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for thyroid enlargement and a permanent 100% disability rating for prostate cancer is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a disability eligible for presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicides, and his prostate cancer is considered static in nature.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism. The Veteran's hypothyroidism is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, but he has not been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted a 50 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The appeal for service connection for cognitive decrease secondary to hypothyroidism has been granted as new and relevant evidence has been presented.

The Veteran's type II diabetes, prostate cancer, IHD, and hypothyroidism are granted service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents in the Korean DMZ. Service connection for ED is also granted as secondary to his prostate cancer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypothyroidism is due to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a thyroid condition and gastrointestinal condition due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation during active service. The Veteran's current conditions are being evaluated further by VA medical examination.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for service-connected hypothyroidism is being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer may be related to his service, including exposure to environmental hazards and toxic substances during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a comprehensive medical examination.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hypothyroidism is denied as the condition did not result in a mental disturbance.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to potential service connection for thyroid disability and T-cell lymphoma related to exposure during military deployments in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hyperthyroidism and nephrolithiasis, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung nodules, lymph node nodules, and thyroid nodules are all incidental clinical findings without underlying or resulting disability; none of these nodules is a disability for VA compensation purposes. As there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence, service connection for the Veteran's lung nodules, lymph node nodules, and thyroid nodules is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary crown permanently cemented on tooth #30 was denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for cystitis and thyroid nodular disease were both denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's thyroid disorder, which may be related to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's evaluation for hypothyroidism was reduced from 60 percent to 30 percent, but the Board found that this reduction was not valid due to a lack of proper notice and process. The rating is restored to 60 percent.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of hypothyroidism and GERD, and granted a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability.