Thyroid disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hypothyroidism is not related to his period of service and does not qualify for presumptive service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim is therefore denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and reviewing the expanded record to include all additional evidence added since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism and hypertensive vascular disease, finding that the conditions did not manifest in service or were not related to any aspect of service including exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence to determine the severity of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination to assess the veteran's disabilities.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent, the maximum available under current criteria.,The psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder) is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum available under current criteria. The RO increased this rating to 30 percent in November 1997.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical spine disability, hypoparathyroidism, and postoperative residuals of thyroidectomy. The veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred in service, nor are they related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The veteran's hypothyroidism and hypertension have also been found not to be related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism, finding no evidence linking it to his active duty or Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's hypertension and hyperthyroidism are not service-connected. The Board is unable to determine if the veteran's current left knee disorder is related to his service, but it is service-connected. His diabetes mellitus remains service-connected.

The veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, left kidney condition, thyroid condition including cyst, and asthma were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for defective vision, peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure, and thyroid tumor (claimed as tumor of the neck and throat) due to herbicide exposure. The evidence submitted was found not new and material.

The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a link to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's non-malignant thyroid nodular disease, status post subtotal thyroidectomy, is due to his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's thyroid disability, which is manifested by fatigue and benign forgetfulness, but not muscular weakness or weight gain, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative papillary thyroid adenocarcinoma residuals and left thumb laceration scar residuals warrant a 10 percent evaluation each, with no need for further action on her part.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Graves Disease status post thyroidectomy does not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's adverse reaction to medication prescribed by VA did not result from carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. The condition was deemed unforeseeable.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA endocrine examination to clarify whether the veteran's hypothyroidism began in service and is related to his diabetes mellitus.