Thyroid disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disability has been reopened and will be considered on the merits. The Board finds that new evidence submitted since April 2012 raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of hyperthyroidism was not reopened as there is no new and material evidence to support it.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's hypothyroidism, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for Graves' disease as secondary to PTSD and increased evaluations for right and left knee disabilities due to lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities, including fatigue, back, right shoulder, cold injury, thyroid, and kidney conditions. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no persuasive medical evidence of current disability or causation.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and hypothyroidism due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection is also remanded for sleep apnea, transient memory loss, and a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and 30 percent for coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a thyroid condition, including hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease. The Veteran's attorney provided evidence suggesting her thyroid condition may be related to her military service, but VA treatment records show no diagnosis until after separation from active duty in 1995. A new examination is needed to determine if the condition began during or within one year of service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for thyroid cancer and lung cancer, both claimed to be due to exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The cause of death is also being remanded.,Additional development is needed to obtain an updated dose estimate based on recent DFTA reports regarding the Veteran's service at McMurdo Station.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed disabilities. The claims will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's thyroid disorder, including whether it is related to service or environmental exposures. Additional VA opinions are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected hypothyroidism. The rating for the Veteran's hypothyroidism remains at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, hypothyroidism, bilateral ankle disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The cervical spine and lumbar spine disability claims have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hyperthyroidism and sleep apnea are not service-connected. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left knee, right knee, low back, breast cancer, and thyroid disability, have been denied.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating for first right metatarsal joint degenerative changes with calcaneal spur has also been denied.

The Board denied service connection for a thyroid disability and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of chronic conditions related to service or service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's assertions regarding exposure to asbestos or mercury were not supported by the available records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for non-malignant thyroid nodular disease is remanded due to the need for a VA opinion on whether his condition is related to in-service radiation exposure from nuclear warheads.

The Veteran's death was caused by follicular thyroid cancer, which the Board found at least as likely as not to have been contributed to by his in-service exposure to jet fuel. The cause of death is therefore service-connected and DIC benefits are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of thyroid cancer and a cervical spine condition due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the Veteran's inability to be contacted and his failure to submit a VA Form 21-8940. The Veteran needs to be given another opportunity to receive a VA examination and clarify his work history.