Thyroid disorder decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, hypothyroidism, and chronic hair loss due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and progression of these conditions are to be considered, as well as known medical literature supporting causation or aggravation by service-connected tinnitus, habitual dysphonia with infantile-type larynx, and/or hypothyroidism.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP), and hypothyroidism due to new arguments raised by the Veteran's representative. The case is being returned for addendum opinions considering obesity as an intermediate step between a service-connected disability and these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for paresthesias of the hands, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, and fatty liver disease is remanded due to a failure to provide an examination regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher initial disability rating for hypothyroidism and an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination and conflicting evidence regarding the etiology of her symptoms.

The Veteran's kidney disorder and CMML are granted service connection, with a 100% rating for CMML effective July 1, 2025. Service connection is also granted for hypothyroidism.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including depression, mental health disorder, TBI, alopecia, headaches, TMJ disorder, insomnia, OSA, conjunctivitis, dry eye disorder, glaucoma, PFB, rhinitis, sinusitis, deviated septum, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, asthma, hyperthyroid disorder, hives, anemia, DM (diabetes mellitus), heart disorder, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), kidney stones, hiatal hernia, hemorrhoids, right hip/thigh disorder, left hip/thigh disorder, varicose veins, heel spurs, pes planus, bunions, RUE neuropathy, LUE neuropathy, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, back disorder, RLE neuropathy, LLE neuropathy, HTN (hypertension), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), bladder disorder, ED (erectile dysfunction), prostate disorder, and gout.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional error in failing to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's fatigue is related to his service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for further verification of his in-service exposure and medical records. The TDIU claim is also deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with insomnia due to MST and service connection for a thyroid disability, which led to their dismissal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism, finding that it did not originate in service and is not related to his exposure during Southwest Asia service.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism is granted as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and the Board finds that his service connection claim meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension, hypothyroidism, gastritis and GERD, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis, right knee arthritis and shin splints have been granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active service.,Service connection for recurrent right shoulder disability (osteoarthritis) and recurrent left shoulder disability (osteoarthritis) is remanded as the evidence does not clearly establish their onset in service.

The Veteran's papillary thyroid cancer and obstructive sleep apnea claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's kidney disorder and CMML are granted service connection, with a 100% rating for CMML effective July 1, 2025. Service connection is also granted for hypothyroidism.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for athlete's foot, heart condition, hypertension, lower back injury, bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right hand 4th metacarpal injury, right shoulder injury, and thyroid surgery. The decision was based on a late filing of the appeal request.

The Veteran's kidney disorder and CMML have been granted service connection, and the rating for CMML has been restored. The Board also found that there is some persuasive evidence linking the Veteran's hypothyroidism to his military service.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hypothyroidism, and tinnitus, have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 21, 2024. The Board granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, sinusitis, tachycardia, hypothyroidism, skin cancer, and carpal tunnel syndrome due to service connection issues. The Veteran's obesity is a potential intermediary step in some of these theories.

The appeal concerning the issues of cervical spondylosis, high blood pressure, thoracolumbar spine disability (low back pain), unspecified right leg condition, anxiety (depression/insomnia), hypothyroidism, residuals of heat stroke, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder condition is dismissed.

The Veteran's kidney disorder and CMML are granted service connection, with a 100% rating for CMML effective July 1, 2025. Service connection is also granted for hypothyroidism.