Thyroid disorder decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including mitral valve prolapse, supraventricular tachycardia with vasovagal syncope, cholecystectomy, chronic asthma, and thyroid cancer status post thyroidectomy, all of which she attributes to receiving the anthrax vaccine during her military service. The Board found that additional opinions are needed regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart condition, peripheral neuropathy, thyroid condition, bladder condition, and diabetic condition due to potential service connection based on in-service Agent Orange exposure. The VA will obtain private treatment records and schedule a new VA examination.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for hypothyroidism, Bell's palsy with right side incomplete paralysis of the fifth and seventh cranial nerves, tracheostomy and biopsy scars of the neck, and vocal cord paralysis. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for hypothyroidism and Bell's palsy were also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's private treatment records from Dr. S.B./LRDC and any additional endocrinologist who has treated his Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism was dismissed as the RO granted it in a prior decision.,Service connection for hypertension is granted from August 10, 2022, under provisions of the PACT Act. The claim for hypertension before that date remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected hypothyroidism, finding that the Veteran's condition only causes fatigue and does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board granted an effective date of October 18, 2005 for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for hypothyroidism and depression. The Veteran is also entitled to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance beginning from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neurological disabilities and tendon rupture.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for service connection and higher ratings related to sleep apnea, GERD, hypothyroidism, cervical spine disc disease, and PTSD. The claims are dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, residuals of prostate cancer, and hypothyroidism due to exposure to herbicides during the Veteran's military service. The conditions are on the presumptive disease list for exposure to herbicides under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation of their service-connected hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, has been dismissed as the Veteran's representative requested withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), calcium deficiency, hyperparathyroidism, and sleep apnea as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's thyroid cancer claim is remanded due to incomplete exposure records, specifically regarding nonionizing radiation. The VA needs to complete a TERA memorandum and ILER report for the Veteran's in-service toxic exposure risk activity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism as due to herbicide agent exposure, finding that there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury related to hypothyroidism and insufficient evidence of herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for hypothyroidism, including its residuals, is being remanded due to the VA examiner's inadequate consideration of his symptoms and the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for prostate issues and gall stones have been granted. The claims for liver problems, colon issues, eye vision, thyroid disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and kidney disorder remain unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during active military service, as the evidence does not support a finding that it was caused by Hashimoto's disease.

The Veteran's thyroid cancer is being remanded for further development to determine if it was caused by radiation exposure during service. The VA will assess the size and nature of the radiation dose or doses, request any available records concerning the Veteran's exposure to radiation, and refer the claim to the Under Secretary for Benefits for consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypothyroidism with Hashimoto's thyroiditis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.