Thyroid disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the appeal due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hyperthyroidism and bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome. The pension claim is also intertwined with these service connection issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer and its residuals are as likely as not attributable to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. As a result, service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left hip condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart condition as secondary to his service-connected parathyroidectomy with a history of hyperthyroidism.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and gynecomastia, claimed as obesity, were denied. The effective dates for the grant of a 10 percent rating for low back disability and for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been set at December 3, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran's thyroid disease, hysterectomy, diabetes mellitus and weight gain are not related to her service exposure to radiation. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board granted a rating of 100 percent for hyperthyroidism with Graves' disease, status post radioactive iodine treatment and residual hypothyroid endocrine dysfunction from October 1, 2013 to June 1, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid disorder, including Graves' disease, was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to his active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid disease is at least as likely as not related to his in-service radiation exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted, and he is currently receiving a 50 percent rating for the disability. The RO also granted service connection for PTSD as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and outstanding evidence, including the Veteran's service discharge certificate and medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hypercalcemia, hepatitis C, a skin disability (dermatophytosis of the foot), left shoulder disability, allergic rhinitis, hyperparathyroidism, back disability, or sleep disorder. The evidence does not establish an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to determine if the Veteran's hyperthyroidism is related to his in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a sleep disorder, including insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's symptoms have been linked to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current autoimmune disorder, and her claimed fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are secondary to her service-connected endometriosis with pelvic pain syndrome. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a current thyroid disability or muscle disability in the pelvis and back area as being related to her service-connected endometriosis.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including service connection for hypothyroidism and increased ratings for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's residuals of Hodgkin's disease, specifically paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and hypothyroidism, are related to his herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication of the claims. The AOJ will consider all evidence received since the last Supplemental Statements of the Case (SSOC) in conjunction with prior evidence.

The Veteran's hyperthyroidism is rated at 60 percent since June 29, 2015. The condition has remained stable with similar symptoms throughout the appeals period.

The Veteran's clothing allowance claims for 2011 and 2014 were granted, while her claim for 2012 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran used topical medications prescribed for service-connected conditions which caused damage to her clothes.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities including a skin condition, fibromyalgia, traumatic arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and hypothyroidism. Her clothing allowance claims are based on the use of these conditions' associated medications.