Thyroid disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and a total rating based on individual unemployability is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his bronchial asthma is currently well-managed with inhalers, his headaches do not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation, and his conditions of hypothyroidism, irritable colon syndrome, rash due to an undiagnosed illness, and joint and bone pain due to an undiagnosed illness are not supported by evidence showing they are related to service or the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for atherosclerotic/atherosclerotic heart disease and an increased disability evaluation for hypothyroidism, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between his service-connected conditions and these disabilities.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for hypoparathyroidism, finding that the condition is currently asymptomatic and no more than 0 percent disabling.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left thyroid adenoma as a result of exposure to Agent Orange was not granted. However, his PTSD has been rated at 100% since September 5, 1996.,The veteran is entitled to a total rating for compensation purposes on the basis of individual unemployability.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her thyroid and parathyroid disorders are granted, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned. Service connection for left knee and ankle disorders is not well grounded.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected thyroid disability is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional records and examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, endometriosis, thyroid condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.