Thyroid disorder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hypothyroidism status post thyroidectomy is being remanded due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the relationship between his service and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism, as well as hypertension, on the basis that these conditions were at least as likely as not caused by in-service exposure to radiation. The decision is based on direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and will consider evidence from the June 2022 supplemental claim rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, requiring an additional examination for hyperthyroidism.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for hypothyroidism with hyperparathyroidism was granted, but the request for an increased rating beyond 30 percent from April 21, 2022 was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all service connection issues, including left leg neuropathy, right leg neuropathy, sinus, rhinitis, asthma, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thyroids, PTSD, diabetes, heart, right hemiparesis, cervical, and other conditions. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and effective dates were dismissed due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182, as no good cause was presented.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to a muscle injury, left shoulder tendonitis, and lumbosacral strain is dismissed. Service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, cancer of the lymph nodes secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, hypothyroidism secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, and a scar of the right neck secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is granted. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is also granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of Graves' Disease with hypothyroidism due to insufficient identification of a specific rating decision or issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations in determining the etiology of the Veteran's hypothyroidism, including its relation to service and herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service connection for hypothyroidism is denied as there is no legal basis to assign a prior effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate his claims of service connection for thyroid carcinoma, bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension as no new and relevant evidence was presented.

The Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypothyroidism is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in service, as it falls under the presumptive conditions list.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypothyroidism is being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the prior VA opinion.

The Board has restored service connection for hypothyroidism, finding that the original decision was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for hypothyroidism and service connection for ear diseases including tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected papillary carcinoma (thyroid cancer) is granted, with the disability rated under DC 7914.