The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or SMC based on complete organic aphonia.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the service-connected hoarseness and weak voice were not manifested by thickening or nodules of cords, polyps, submucous infiltration or pre-malignant changes on biopsy. The thyroidectomy was not shown to be manifested by tachycardia, tremor, and increased pulse pressure or blood pressure.
- Claimed conditions
- Hoarseness and weak voice, Thyroidectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 27, 2009
- Citation
- 0902714
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,599 · Granted: 37% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0902714.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for thyroidectomy due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active service. The Board has also remanded cases regarding left and right leg restless leg syndrome, as a VA medical opinion is needed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding left ankle strain, hysterectomy residuals, and hair loss. The Veteran's claims of service connection are otherwise denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, thyroidectomy, multiple facial scars, numbness of the right jaw, scar of the right leg, and scar of the right index finger do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Denied
The VA determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as there is no evidence of inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
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