Thyroid disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain medical records and determine if a radiogenic disease manifested 5 years or more after exposure in 1957.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for ED, hemorrhoids, or hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his exposure history.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and morning reports to verify his exposure to Agent Orange in Korea. The VA examiner who conducted the May 2012 mental disorders examination will be asked to reconsider their opinion based on newly added service treatment records.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. After resolving all benefit of the doubt in favor of the Veteran, the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypothyroidism is manifested by fatigability, constipation, and mental sluggishness. Therefore, a 30 percent rating for hypothyroidism has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, as there is no evidence of current disabilities. The claim for a higher rating for his thyroid disability was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and hypothyroidism are service-connected, with no presumption or secondary connection involved.

The Board has granted an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism from 10 to 30 percent, effective December 31, 2008.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the cause of death due to exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The Veteran's thyroid cancer was not related to his military service, and there is insufficient evidence linking it to any condition incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back disability, right knee disability, and thyroid disability. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and left clavicle fracture remain on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thyroid disorder and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further evaluation due to the addition of service-connected hypothyroidism, which has changed his combined rating from 70% to 80%. The VA will need to determine if the combination of disabilities prevents him from securing and maintaining employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, thyroid condition, and sleep apnea with CPAP due to missing service treatment records and the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to comply with a Court's May 2012 Memorandum Decision, including obtaining relevant service treatment records and obtaining an adequate VA opinion.

The Veteran's thyroid disorder, which was diagnosed after a thyroidectomy during service, is found to be incurred in service. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood is rated at the maximum available benefit of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary atherosclerotic heart disease has not met the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent.

The Board has ordered a new VA medical examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism. The appeal is REMANDED for this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer is at least as likely as not caused by exposure to herbicides during his active duty service, and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypothyroidism and macular degeneration, which he claims are related to exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development including a dose estimate from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.