The VA denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to his shortness of breath, hypercalcemia, and neck mass resulting from a subtotal parathyroidectomy, right thyroid lobectomy, parathyroidectomy, and autotransplantation of the right superior thyroid into left sternocleidomastoid muscle on November 4, 1999. The VA found that there was no additional disability as a result of this treatment.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show an increase in severity of the veteran's conditions post-surgery, and his current symptoms were attributed to pre-existing conditions rather than the surgical intervention.
- Claimed conditions
- shortness of breath, hypercalcemia, neck mass
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2005
- Citation
- 0515585
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0515585.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.
- Granted
The Veteran's shortness of breath and Hodgkin's lymphoma are granted service connection, but his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and acquired psychiatric disorder are denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims will be readjudicated after obtaining any necessary records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition (congestive heart failure), hypertension, and shortness of breath. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.
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