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.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinions were inadequate and did not consider the Veteran's lay statements about the onset and continuity of his symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Thyroidectomy, Left leg restless leg syndrome, Right leg restless leg syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2026
- Citation
- A26002801
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 A26002801.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, restless leg syndrome, and migraines but granted a 20 percent rating for undiagnosed illness with symptoms of joint ache and fatigue. Service connection was also denied for chronic sinusitis.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, headaches, left knee MCL strain with limitation of flexion, and left knee MCL strain with bracing post-surgery, but granted service connection for CFS, left leg RLS, and a 10 percent rating for scar, left lower extremity knee. The effective date for the 70 percent rating for PTSD and the 30 percent ratings for headaches, OSA, and scar, left lower extremity knee were also granted from April 26, 2013.
- Partly granted
The Board denied higher ratings for PTSD and alcohol use disorder, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. However, service connection was granted for allergic rhinitis under the PACT Act.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding no current diagnosis of such a disability.,Service connection was also denied for a chronic right knee disability due to lack of evidence showing the Veteran had such a condition during or within one year after service discharge.,Restless leg syndrome of the right lower extremity was not found to be related to service and thus, service connection was denied.
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