Thyroid disorder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's diagnosed hypothyroidism is presumed to be the result of in-service exposure to herbicide agents due to his service in Vietnam, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for kidney stones, gall stones, thyroid disorder, benign liver disorder, cervical disorder (claimed as cervical cancer), and ovarian cysts due to lack of evidence showing a causal link between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service exposure to chemical or environmental toxins at Fort McClellan.,Service connection was not granted because there is no persuasive medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to the Veteran's service-connected exposures.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to his active service and has been granted.,Tinnitus was present during service and continues today, warranting service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records and outstanding VA treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and readjudicate the cases.

The Board denied service connection for osteoporosis of the skull and a thyroid condition, finding no current diagnosis or symptoms that cause functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a thyroid disorder, currently diagnosed as hypothyroidism, due to an inadequate VA examination and duty to assist error.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in social and occupational impairment, but not total impairment. A 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's residuals of chemo-radiation therapy associated with laryngeal cancer are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of proper consideration of his exposure to radiation during service. The AOJ is instructed to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing and forward all relevant documents, including a July 2013 memo about ionizing radiation exposure at Fort Bliss, to the VA Under Secretary for Health for a dose estimate.

The Board denied service connection for heart palpitations as the evidence did not show it was incurred during active duty, training or in-service exposure. The Veteran's hyperthyroid heart disease is not considered a covered disease and therefore cannot be granted on that basis.

The Board has dismissed all the claims related to various disabilities, including psychiatric disorders, hypothyroidism, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder brachial plexus neuropraxia, and right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for thyroid cancer status post thyroidectomy, hypothyroidism secondary to thyroid cancer status post thyroidectomy, and a thyroidectomy scar due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for prostate cancer, PTSD, hypothyroidism, tremors, and a bilateral knee disorder due to their connection with issues pending before the RO. The appellant's claims for accrued benefits and service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death will be reconsidered once these intertwined issues are resolved.

The Board has determined that the decision on appeal is not final and requires additional medical opinions to address the correct legal standards and the holding in Spicer v. McDonough, 61 F.4th 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2023).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her inability to use assistive devices as a normal mode of locomotion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability, skin condition (including skin cancer), thyroid condition, colon cancer, lung condition, and prostate condition due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being remanded as the VA examinations did not substantially comply with the November 2022 remand directives.,The Board has denied service connection for left foot disability, skin condition (including skin cancer), thyroid condition, colon cancer, lung condition, and prostate condition due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being remanded as the VA examinations did not substantially comply with the November 2022 remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was denied. The effective date of the 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease is set at May 4, 2018. The earlier effective date for loss of teeth secondary to Hodgkin's disease is granted but no earlier than October 19, 2011.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism disability is rated at 30 percent, but not higher, effective from the date of filing his claim on August 31, 2016.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism disability is rated at 0 percent, and the Board finds duty to assist errors occurred prior to the October 2023 rating decision. The issue of a compensable evaluation for service-connected hypothyroidism must be remanded.,The Veteran's entitlement to a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is also remanded due to duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information and evidence, including a need for VA examinations and opinions regarding exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypopituitarism, hypogonadism and gynecomastia status post pituitary adenoma removal, and hypothyroidism have all been granted. The effective date is July 24, 2006.