Thyroid disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disorder, claimed as due to radiation exposure during her military service is being remanded for additional development including obtaining the Veteran's unit history from 1980 to 1981 and providing her with a VA examination.

The Veteran's medical expenses for treatment of congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and thyroid were reimbursed as they fell under the criteria for payment or reimbursement in a non-VA facility.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including heart disease, stroke with left-sided weakness, left visual impairment, left auditory impairment, thyroid dysfunction, and seizure disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, characterized as Hashimoto's syndrome, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that a 30 percent rating is warranted based on the Veteran's reported symptoms of fatigue, constipation, and mental sluggishness.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic cough, psychiatric disorder, hyperthyroidism (claimed as hand tremors), and partial amputation of the left index finger. The Veteran's right hand condition was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his increased rating claims for hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for thyroidectomy is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and vascular disorders of the left lower extremity, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.

The Board found that the reduction of the evaluation for the Veteran's thyroiditis from 10 percent to noncompensable effective as of September 1, 2005, was proper. The Board also concluded that a compensable evaluation is not warranted for the Veteran's thyroiditis at any time during the pendency of this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for some conditions, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood secondary to a service-connected disability. The other claims related to malaria, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and thyroid abnormalities are either not supported by the evidence or have been reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches, cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and degenerative joint disease of the knees are granted. The Veteran is awarded a 10 percent rating for lumbar strain with degenerative changes from April 18, 2006 to January 4, 2008, and an increased evaluation to 40 percent thereafter. He also receives a non-compensable rating for his scar of the anterior neck and burn scar of the right hand. The Veteran's scrotal varices disability is rated as non-compensable, while his degenerative joint disease of the left knee and right knee are each rated as non-compensable.

The Veteran's heart disorder, thyroid disorder, and eye disorder were not found to be related to his military service. The skin disorder was not diagnosed until after separation from service and is presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure during service.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's kidney stone condition, currently rated at 30 percent.

The VA determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for a special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to her physical conditions, which do not render her so helpless as to require assistance.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 21, 2004 for a grant of service connection and a 100 percent evaluation for hyperparathyroidism was denied as there is no legal basis for such an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's depression is service connected. Service connection for varicose veins of the right leg and left leg was granted with a 10 percent evaluation effective September 9, 2004.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim can be properly adjudicated, including providing VCAA notice and obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis caused or contributed to his death.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed thyroid disorder, pulmonary disorder, vascular circulatory disorder, left eye growth, cancer spots on the face, and hydrocele. The issues were all decided as secondary to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service records and provide a VA examination for his Meniere's disease of the right ear. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C, left leg disorder, left toe disorder, hypothyroidism, and TDIU are also pending.