Thyroid disorder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, throat cancer with dysphagia, diabetic retinopathy, hypothyroidism, left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, and diabetes have been remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.,Additionally, the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to April 14, 2021, and earlier effective date for Basic eligibility to Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) benefits are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and hypothyroidism, make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effects of his disabilities.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for hypothyroidism and dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding a rating in excess of 0 percent for constipation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected hypothyroidism is denied as the condition does not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for hypothyroidism in excess of 10 percent is denied. The evidence does not show that his symptoms meet the criteria for a higher rating under the revised Diagnostic Code 7903.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, hypothyroidism, allergic rhinitis, COPD with asthma and pulmonary hypertension, tinnitus, and obesity have been granted effective dates based on the PACT Act. Effective dates are set according to the date of diagnosis or receipt of claim.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for further action, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypothyroidism, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hip disability, stomach ulcers, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates related to service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no other formal claims prior to the currently assigned effective dates that would entitle the Veteran to earlier effective dates.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed condition.

The Board denied service connection for Grave's disease and hypothyroidism, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and set the effective date to December 15, 2021. The Veteran's claim was pending since his intent to file on December 15, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's exposure to contaminated ground water at Fort Jackson and his thyroid disease. The AOJ is instructed to obtain necessary medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's parathyroid adenoma, status post parathyroidectomy. The examiner did not consider all potential exposure and risk factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, but the case for hypothyroidism is remanded due to a lack of medical examination or opinion prior to the rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals for reducing his hypothyroidism rating and discontinuing special monthly compensation benefits due to housebound status were dismissed as there was no case or controversy regarding these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for hypothyroidism is remanded due to duty to assist errors, including the need for more contemporaneous medical records and an adequate VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism should be remanded due to a duty to assist error, and an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that her condition manifested within one year of discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the appellant, who is now deceased, had no pending claims affected by the 2021 amendments to 38 U.S.C. 1116 regarding presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal diseases and autoimmune disease are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected disabilities, as well as their potential relation to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis, asthma, sleep apnea, back condition, neck condition, flat foot/pes planus, and hypothyroidism, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.