Service connection for hypothyroidism is granted. The claim for service connection for a facial muscular and nerve disorder (claimed as facial muscle twitch) remains denied, but the Veteran's claim of new and material evidence to reopen this issue has been granted. Service connection for a bilateral eye disorder is remanded.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided were not sufficient to determine whether the Veteran's current hypothyroidism was aggravated by his service or if he had a facial muscular and nerve disorder during service, leading to the need for further examination and opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- hypothyroidism, facial muscular and nerve disorder (claimed as facial muscle twitch), bilateral eye disorder
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 8, 2023
- Citation
- 23008311
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 23008311.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for hypothyroidism is denied, and the Board finds that service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and bilateral foot condition should be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypothyroidism and therefore denied their claim for service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis with complications, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, vitamin deficiencies, memory/cognitive impairment, unexplained arthralgias, fatigue, hair loss, and bradycardia.
- Granted
The appellant is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, effective September 1, 2020.
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