Thyroid disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, all of which are being reconsidered due to new evidence. The Board has not yet determined the outcome for each condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board is remanding the remaining claims to obtain updated VCAA notice and to schedule VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thyroid cancer residuals were incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and exposures, with the majority of issues seeking service connection for various health problems. The Board has determined that a hearing is needed to address these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disability, Gulf War-related symptoms, and service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's AMM and/or thyroid cancer and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide new VA examinations for the Veteran's hypothyroidism and dermatitis.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism and constipation are rated at 30 percent prior to April 8, 2009, and the RO has denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for her fatigue and headaches.

The Veteran's claims for multiple joint pains, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, urinary frequency/loss of bladder control, and memory loss due to undiagnosed illnesses have all been denied as the medical evidence does not support these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran has service connection for hypothyroidism, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The Veteran's nephrolithiasis is not considered to be related to his military service. Service connection for headaches was also granted.

The Board found that the reduction of the rating for thyroidectomy for goiter with residual scar from 30 percent to 0 percent, effective August 1, 2007, was proper. The Veteran's condition warranted a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7902 and a separate 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7903 as of August 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, Type II is being remanded due to the need for a scientific rationale in the November 2005 VA examination report.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism has not been manifested by constipation, muscular weakness, mental sluggishness, or mental disturbance at any time during the period on appeal. The Board concludes that a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism requires continuous medication for control, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of specific symptoms such as fatigue, constipation, and mental sluggishness.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thyroid condition and an initial compensable disability rating for partial tongue removal, finding that his thyroid condition did not have its onset in service or for many years thereafter, and was not related to any incident of service. The claim for a compensable disability rating for residuals of tonsillectomy with tracheostomy was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not submit a timely substantive appeal with regard to his claims for service connection for various conditions. The RO denied these claims in April 2006, and the Veteran was notified of this decision on April 24, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected hypothyroidism was granted, with the effective date set at March 17, 2010. The Veteran is now rated at 30 percent for this condition.

The Board found that the causes of the Veteran's death were not related to service-connected disabilities, including his combat wounds sustained in August 1944. The Board determined that these injuries did not play a material causal role in the Veteran's death or substantially worsened any other condition leading to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further evaluation of the Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.