VA Disability Ratings For Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, a condition in which your thyroid glands produce inadequate hormones. It may cause a slow heart rate, fatigue, unexplained weight gain, and depression. This condition develops from exposure to some chemicals that military personnel can come in contact with during their service.
If you are a veteran suffering from service-related hypothyroidism, this guide will help you understand your hypothyroidism VA disability rating. You can also learn to file your VA claim and obtain maximum benefits for your hypothyroidism.
Signs And Symptoms Of Hypothyroidism
The symptoms of hypothyroidism rely on the severity of your condition. Common signs and symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Dry skin
- Puffy face
- Coarse skin and hair
- Unintended weight gain
- Constipation
- Sensitivity to cold
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irregular or heavier menstrual cycles
- Muscle weakness
- Heart failure
- Coma
- Myxedema is a type of severe hypothyroidism that leads to the swelling of your face and different parts of your body, including your lower legs.
Proving Your Service Connection For Hypothyroidism
Veterans can receive VA compensation ratings and benefits for their service-connected hypothyroidism. To prove a service-connected hypothyroidism condition, veterans must establish they had previous exposure to certain chemicals that have been connected to the condition, including:
- Agent Orange
- Radiation
- Solvents, such as TCE or trichloroethylene
- Ammonium perchlorate, a rocket and missile propellant
- Lead
- Perfluoroalkyl acid, or AFFF Foam
- Chlorine dioxide, a water disinfectant
- Pesticides
- Benzopyrene found in JP-4 and other exhausts
- Heavy metals
- Wood preservatives from burn pits
- Coal smoke
- Dioxins, like TCDD, are found in Agent Orange and burn pits.
Remember that the VA presumes that Agent Orange leads to hypothyroidism. They may also assume that a veteran who served in some regions, like Vietnam, was exposed to this chemical. As such, every veteran who served in a location exposed to Agent Orange can prove the required link for hypothyroidism. It involves anyone who served in Vietnam and some sites and service dates in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, Johnston Atoll, and Samoa.
Ratings Criteria For Hypothyroidism
The VA uses various diagnostic codes and ratings to consider types and severities of disability and determine how much benefits veterans can obtain for their disabilities.
According to Title 38 of Code of Federal Regulations § 4.119 – Schedule of Ratings (Endocrine System), the VA rates hypothyroidism condition under code 7903. Its rating relies on whether the service member has developed myxedema (swelling of the skin and underlying tissues that leads to advanced hypothyroidism).
VA Disability Ratings For Hypothyroidism
The VA rates hypothyroidism condition at two levels, including:
- 30% Rating: A veteran with hypothyroidism without myxedema may obtain a 30% VA disability rating.
- 100% Rating: A veteran may get a 100% rating if they have hypothyroidism with myxedema. Veterans with a 100% disability rating for hypothyroidism can experience the following:
- Bradycardia (in which your heart beats too slowly);
- Low blood pressure or hypotension;
- Pericardial effusion (in which fluid builds up around your heart, resulting in shortness of breath, fatigue, abnormal heart function, and chest pain);
- Mental disturbance, including but not limited to depression, dementia, and slowing of thought.
Unlike other ratings, VA disability ratings for hypothyroidism have certain strict timelines. The VA only assigns a temporary 100% hypothyroidism VA rating, which will be eliminated once your myxedema is under remission for six months.
Once your condition stabilizes for six months, you’ll get a rating for each symptom according to your appropriate body system. For example, if your myxedema has gone under remission for up to six months, but your hypothyroidism condition is still causing eye problems, you can be eligible for the VA visual impairment rating.
Similarly, the 30% hypothyroidism rating will last only six months after your initial diagnosis. After six months, the VA will rate your symptoms according to different body systems.
