Thyroid disorder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hypothyroidism is granted as secondary to her service-connected Graves' disease/hyperthyroidism.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as effective dates for certain conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions and records to address deficiencies in prior examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion in the August 2023 decision. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disorder including a nodule is now pending and needs to be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, heart disability, and hypothyroidism are not related to his active service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for inguinal hernia and hyperthyroidism due to inadequate medical opinions in the November 2021 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities because his combined evaluation was at least 70% and he satisfied the schedular rating criteria. The evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's unauthorized non-VA medical expenses incurred on July 21, 2022 for COVID pneumonia treatment were reimbursed as the care was emergent and a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous. The service-connected disabilities aggravated by this care are also considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hypothyroidism, and OSA are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The AOJ must obtain the Veteran's military personnel records and determine if he was exposed to herbicide agents during service.

The appeal as to hyperthyroidism is dismissed due to untimely filing. The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and immune disorder are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for Hashimoto thyroiditis, asthma, and acute bronchitis due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for papillary thyroid carcinoma and associated scar are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and medical opinions. The issues of aid and attendance are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypothyroidism, and peripheral neuropathies of bilateral lower and upper extremities have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.,The Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypothyroidism and liver disease. The claims are remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist. The AOJ will consider additional evidence when these claims are readjudicated.

The Board has granted an effective date prior to August 6, 2014, for the grant of service connection for residuals of papillary thyroid cancer status post thyroidectomy. However, the claim is remanded due to a lack of adequate medical evidence regarding the Veteran's most recent treatment and when he last received radioactive iodine treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to his service-connected hypothyroidism are inextricably intertwined with the need for a proper medical examination regarding the Veteran's myxedema condition. The claims are therefore being remanded to obtain this necessary evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, parkinsonism/Parkinson's disease, hypothyroidism, and hypertension have been granted. The service connection is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's appeal of his increased rating for hypothyroidism and TDIU claims should be remanded due to inadequate medical examination.

Service connection for right ear disability (tinnitus) is granted. Service connection for skin disability (boil on right buttock), left leg lymphedema, right leg lymphedema, congestive heart failure, sleep apnea, enlarged aorta, and enlarged thyroid are remanded.