Thyroid disorder Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney disability and hypothyroidism were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2005 for TDIU was denied as the earliest ascertainable date of increased disability was February 1, 2005.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2005 for DEA eligibility was denied as he did not meet the criteria for permanent and total disability prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital in February 2006 was denied because the services were not authorized by VA and the Veteran had other health care coverage under Medicare.

The Board found that the Veteran's thyroid nodules were not present during active service, did not first manifest within one year following discharge from service, and have not been shown by competent medical evidence to be etiologically related to his service. As such, service connection for thyroid nodules is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disability, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to radiation exposure.

The Veteran's thyroid lobectomy residuals with a history of a right thyroid nodule and dysphagia, rated as 30 percent disabling from October 18, 2005, to April 6, 2006, is now rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's hypothyroidism, also rated as 10 percent disabling since April 7, 2006, remains at the same rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disorder and a thyroid disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for thyroid disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of his exposure to radiation during service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not permanently incapable of self-support at age 18.

The Board has dismissed the claims for an increased rating for athlete's foot and service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, L5-S1, to include as secondary to service-connected arthritis of the cervical spine. The Veteran withdrew his appeals with respect to these issues.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance due to her physical and mental disabilities. However, she meets the criteria for special monthly pension on account of being housebound.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, hypothyroidism, hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder (major depression with polysubstance abuse, in remission), and residuals of low back trauma. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence presented.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a dose assessment of ionizing radiation exposure and an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his skin disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted for sinus tachycardia, while the Veteran's migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, and hypothyroidism (post thyroidectomy) were rated appropriately.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm cyst, flat feet, Bartholin's cyst, and breast mass were previously denied. New evidence submitted since the last denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims. The Veteran's current right knee disorder and low back disorder are not shown to be related to her active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant post-service treatment records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, gynecological disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hyperthyroidism are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not cause or contribute to his death. Neither diabetes mellitus, hypertension, nor hyperparathyroidism were shown to have had onset during service or be related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism with mild exophthalmos was manifested by fatigue, constipation, memory problems, cold intolerance, and mild exophthalmus. The VA determined that the disability did not warrant a higher rating.