VASRD Endocrine System

The Veteran Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) is a government-published collection of medical criteria for VA raters to use as a standard when reviewing military members and their medical claims to determine VA official military disability ratings.

How Does the VASRD Rate Endocrine Conditions?

These VA disability ratings help determine VA disability percentages for medical conditions. They also help determine the amount of compensation to be offered to a veteran for service-connected injuries, illnesses, or other medical conditions.

The VASRD includes a section on the endocrine system, which is described by the Mayo Clinic as a number of glands, including:

• Pituitary gland
• Thyroid gland
• Parathyroid glands
• Adrenal glands
• Pancreas
• Ovaries where applicable
• Testicles where applicable

There are too many endocrine system disorders rated by the VA to list comprehensively here, but we’ll cover some of the major conditions that may receive a VA disability rating.

The Endocrine System

The VA rates endocrine system conditions based on symptom severity and their impact on daily functioning. The following conditions are among the most commonly rated endocrine system disorders in filing VA disability claims.

Acromegaly VA Disability Rating

Acromegaly is a condition in which the body produces excess growth hormone, which may result in enlargement of the jaw, nose, forehead, hands, and feet.

This condition can be rated up to 100% depending on its nature and severity. Other effects of this condition can include increased intracranial pressure, arthropathy, glucose intolerance, and hypertension.

Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your monthly compensation based on your rating.

Hyperthyroidism VA Disability Rating

​Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces excess thyroxine, leading to accelerated metabolism, an irregular heartbeat, and other symptoms.

This condition can be caused by Graves’ Disease, but not the sole cause. VA instructions to medical raters evaluating hyperthyroidism to rate at a maximum of 30% for six months following an initial diagnosis of the hyperthyroid condition itself. When a specific cardiac disease is present, those issues are reviewed separately.

A related issue, Toxic Thyroid Enlargement, can result in neck disfigurement and may be evaluated separately under a Burn/Scarring guideline for the head, face, and neck. A separate evaluation for non-toxic thyroid enlargement is also part of the VASRD.

Hypothyroidism VA Disability Rating

Hypothyroidism is the inverse of hyperthyroid issues–the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormone. VA ratings can be as high as 100% for this issue, which can include symptoms such as:

• Myxedema or cold intolerance
• Muscular weakness
• Cardiovascular issues such as hypotension, bradycardia, and pericardial effusion
• Mental disturbances such as dementia, depression

Hyperparathyroidism VA Disability Rating

​Hyperparathyroidism is when the body’s parathyroid glands become overactive, releasing too much parathyroid hormone, which can result in too much calcium in the blood. This condition may be rated at 100% depending on severity and other factors.

A 100% rating may be issued for the condition for 6 months after surgery. Similar ratings are approved for Hypercalcemia that meets the VA’s severity guidelines. Other related VA ratings in this area include thyroiditis and Cushing’s Syndrome.

Addison’s Disease VA Disability Rating

Addison’s Disease, also known as adrenocortical insufficiency, occurs when the adrenal glands don’t produce enough cortisol and/or aldosterone. Ratings range from 0% to 60% based on four or more crises in a year, with lower ratings for fewer crises.

The VA defines a crisis as a rapid onset of peripheral vascular collapse with acute hypotension and shock, which may include:

• Anorexia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dehydration
• Profound weakness
• Pain in the abdomen, legs, and back
• Fever and apathy
• Depressed mentation, with possible progression to coma, renal shutdown, or death

Note that the VA distinguishes between a crisis and an “Addisonian episode,” the latter being a less acute and less severe event.

Diabetes Mellitus VA Disability Rating

Diabetes mellitus is a condition where the body either cannot produce enough insulin or cannot respond to it properly. VA ratings can reach as high as 100% in the most severe cases — requiring multiple daily insulin injections, restricted diet and activities, and at least three hospitalizations per year for ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions, or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider.

Less severe cases may be rated at 60% or lower, and conditions manageable through diet restriction alone max out at 10%.

Malignant Neoplasm of the Endocrine System

Malignant Neoplasm found in “any specified part” of the endocrine system can earn a VA rating as high as ​100%. A Neoplasm is basically an uncontrolled growth or tumor. VA rating guidelines instruct the rater that a 100% VA rating “shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgical, X-ray, antineoplastic chemotherapy or other therapeutic procedure” related to this condition.

Six months after ending the treatment, “the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination”. In cases where there is no “recurrence or metastasis”, the VA disability rating may hinge on “residuals”.

Final Thoughts

Endocrine system conditions can significantly impact a veteran’s quality of life, and the VA recognizes this with ratings that can reach 100% depending on the condition’s severity and nature. Whether you’re managing diabetes, a thyroid disorder, Addison’s disease, or another endocrine condition, understanding how the VA rates your specific diagnosis is the first step toward getting the compensation you’ve earned.

Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your monthly compensation based on your rating, and check VA disability pay dates to know exactly when to expect your first payment once your claim is approved.