Thyroid disorder decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and thyroid disorder as due to hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's Graves' disease and associated parathyroidectomy have not been fully evaluated, as her symptoms have worsened since the last examination in August 2020. The Board finds a new VA examination is necessary to determine the current severity of her condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations. The issues include left foot, right foot, back, kidney disease, gastroesophageal and/or gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), gynecological condition, acquired psychiatric disability, anemia, sleep apnea, thyroid disorder, respiratory disorder, hypertension, bone disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's exposure to toxins at Fort McClellan is also under review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue and a sleep disability were denied. The Board found that his fatigue is related to his diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, which was not due to service or any other compensable condition. Service connection for hypothyroidism was granted based on its known etiology and pathophysiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to new evidence submitted by his representative. The VA Regional Office is instructed to consider all available evidence and readjudicate each claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employment capacity and potential impact of her service-connected conditions, particularly PTSD.

The Veteran's brain disease (claimed as brain lesions) is granted service connection, with the Board finding it at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure and service-connected sarcoidosis.,Service connection for non-toxic multi nodular thyroid nodules is granted, with the Board finding it at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure while stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a throat condition, including subglottic stenosis, benign neoplasm of the thyroid, and hypothyroidism, has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's infertility and thyroid condition, which are related to exposure to burn pits during service.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for hypothyroidism, effective July 1, 2018. The reduction from 100% to 10% was proper due to the discontinuation of treatment for malignancy.

The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism, finding that the evidence did not establish a relationship between the disability and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional evidence, including medical records from private providers and former employers.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus type II and thyroid disorder for additional development to obtain clarifying opinions from VA examiners.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right elbow disability and hypothyroidism, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including basal cell carcinoma, benign neoplasm for cerebral meninges, cerebral edema-brain tumor, and thyroid nodules, all secondary to herbicide exposure. The VA will obtain new medical opinions regarding these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for heart disability and thyroid disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain a substantially gainful occupation from October 20, 2009, to December 31, 2011, and from January 1, 2013, to October 1, 2019. The Board affords the Veteran the benefit of doubt in finding that his service-connected disabilities alone resulted in unemployability during these periods.

The Veteran's thyroid disability is granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities. Service connection for other conditions (left shoulder, bilateral knee, left wrist, and left foot plantar fasciitis) related to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for thyroid cancer, including as due to exposure to radiation and/or herbicides, is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined ratings did not meet the schedular requirements and that there was no evidence of an inability to perform sedentary employment due to service-connected disabilities.