Veterans with hypothyroidism can receive VA disability compensation if the condition is service-connected. The VA rates hypothyroidism under Diagnostic Code 7903, and the current schedule has only two possible ratings: 30% for hypothyroidism without myxedema, or 100% for hypothyroidism with myxedema. There is no 10%, 20%, or 60% tier under this diagnostic code, which surprises many veterans who read outdated information online.
This guide covers the current 2026 rating criteria straight from 38 CFR 4.119, how much each rating pays, how to establish service connection (including a little-known Agent Orange presumption), secondary conditions that can raise your combined rating, and the steps to file a claim.
VA Hypothyroidism Rating Criteria Under Diagnostic Code 7903
The VA's endocrine system rating schedule was substantially revised effective December 10, 2017, and that version remains current today. Before the revision, older editions of the schedule used a graduated structure. The version in force now is much simpler and, for most veterans, less generous, because it removed the mid-level tiers that used to apply to controlled or medicated hypothyroidism.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|
| 100% | Hypothyroidism manifesting as myxedema: cold intolerance, muscular weakness, cardiovascular involvement (including but not limited to hypotension, bradycardia, and pericardial effusion), and mental disturbance (including but not limited to dementia, slowing of thought, and depression) |
| 30% | Hypothyroidism without myxedema |
That is the entire rating table for DC 7903. There is no separate 10% rating for hypothyroidism that is well-controlled with medication and no other tier between 30% and 100%. If your thyroid condition is diagnosed and service-connected but does not rise to myxedema, the VA rates it at 30%, even if your thyroid hormone replacement keeps your labs stable.
Two important notes accompany this diagnostic code:
Note 1 (myxedema, 100% rating): This evaluation continues for six months beyond the date an examining physician determines the crisis has stabilized. After that, the VA rates any residual effects under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the affected body systems, such as eye, digestive, or mental health conditions.
Note 2 (without myxedema, 30% rating): This evaluation continues for six months after the initial diagnosis. After that period, the VA rates residuals of the disease or medical treatment under the most appropriate diagnostic codes.
Note 3: If eye involvement is also present due to thyroid disease, such as exophthalmos, corneal ulcer, blurred vision, or diplopia, the VA separately evaluates that under the eye rating schedule at 38 CFR 4.79.
Because myxedema is a severe, advanced manifestation of untreated or poorly controlled hypothyroidism, most veterans who receive treatment and medication are rated at 30%. The 100% rating is reserved for a specific, medically documented crisis-level presentation.
2026 VA Disability Pay for Hypothyroidism Ratings
The 2026 VA compensation rates reflect a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment that took effect December 1, 2025, with the increased payments arriving in January 2026.
| Rating | Monthly Pay (Veteran Alone) | Monthly Pay (Veteran with Spouse) |
|---|
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 |
At the 30% rating, the VA adds additional amounts for a spouse, children, or dependent parents, which is why the spouse column is higher. At the 100% rating, dependent amounts increase further, and additional Special Monthly Compensation may apply if you have specific severe impairments such as loss of use of a body part.
These figures reflect compensation for hypothyroidism alone under DC 7903. Most veterans have more than one service-connected condition, so your actual monthly payment depends on your combined disability rating, calculated using VA math rather than simple addition.
Why the 2017 Revision Matters for Your Claim
Before the endocrine system schedule was revised, veterans could sometimes find themselves rated at intermediate levels reflecting symptom severity or treatment burden. The current regulation, in effect since December 10, 2017, collapsed hypothyroidism into a binary structure: 30% or 100%. If you filed a claim years ago and were told about a 10% rating for hypothyroidism, that information does not reflect the rating schedule that has applied for years now, and it should not be relied on when preparing a current claim.
This also means the C&P exam and your medical evidence need to focus on two specific questions: does the record support a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, and does it include documentation of myxedema-level symptoms (cold intolerance, muscular weakness, cardiovascular involvement, and mental disturbance)? There is no benefit to VA raters from documenting moderate symptom severity that falls between these two tiers, because the schedule does not have a rating for it.
Establishing Service Connection for Hypothyroidism
To receive VA disability compensation for hypothyroidism, you need to show the condition is connected to your military service. There are three main paths.
Direct service connection requires medical records showing hypothyroidism began during or was caused by active duty service, plus a current diagnosis and a medical opinion (nexus) linking the two.
Presumptive service connection through Agent Orange exposure. In 2021, the VA added hypothyroidism to its list of presumptive conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure, alongside bladder cancer and Parkinsonism, under changes required by the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act. If you served in Vietnam, Korea's DMZ, Thailand, or other locations and time periods recognized for Agent Orange exposure, and you have a current hypothyroidism diagnosis, you may not need to prove a direct medical link. The VA automatically reopened many previously denied claims for these three conditions. Note that hypothyroidism itself is not on the separate PACT Act burn pit presumptive list, so veterans claiming toxic exposure from burn pits generally still need to establish a direct or secondary connection rather than relying on an automatic presumption.
Secondary service connection applies when hypothyroidism developed as a result of another service-connected condition or its treatment. Common examples include:
- Medications for other service-connected conditions that affect thyroid function
- Autoimmune conditions, since Hashimoto's thyroiditis (the most common cause of hypothyroidism) is autoimmune and can be linked to other service-connected autoimmune or endocrine disorders
- Radiation or chemical exposure documented in service treatment records
- Thyroid surgery or treatment for a separately service-connected thyroid nodule or cancer
If you already have a service-connected condition and believe it caused or worsened your thyroid function, a secondary service connection claim with a supporting nexus letter is the right path.
Secondary Conditions That Can Increase Your Combined Rating
Because DC 7903 caps most hypothyroidism claims at 30%, many veterans pursue additional claims for conditions caused by or related to their thyroid disease. These are rated separately and combined with the hypothyroidism rating to produce a higher overall disability rating.
Depression and cognitive symptoms - Untreated or poorly controlled hypothyroidism is well documented to cause depression, brain fog, and slowed thinking. These can be claimed and rated separately under the mental health schedule.
Cardiovascular conditions - Hypothyroidism is linked to elevated cholesterol, bradycardia, and other cardiac effects. Documented cardiovascular complications may support a separate claim.
Weight gain and metabolic effects - Significant weight gain from hypothyroidism can contribute to conditions like sleep apnea or joint problems, which may be claimed as secondary conditions with appropriate medical evidence.
GERD and digestive symptoms - Thyroid dysfunction can affect digestive motility and contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms rated under a separate diagnostic code.
Eye involvement - As noted above, thyroid eye disease symptoms like exophthalmos or diplopia are separately rated under 38 CFR 4.79.
TDIU - If hypothyroidism and its secondary conditions prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), which pays at the 100% rate even if your combined schedular rating is lower.
Required Evidence for a Hypothyroidism Claim
Medical records documenting a current hypothyroidism diagnosis, including thyroid function lab results (TSH, free T4) from a licensed provider.
Service records or exposure documentation. For Agent Orange presumptive claims, records showing service in a recognized exposure location and time period are generally sufficient. For direct claims, service treatment records showing onset during service strengthen your case.
Nexus letter from a doctor explaining the medical relationship between service (or a service-connected condition) and your hypothyroidism diagnosis. This is essential for direct and secondary connection claims, though it is not required for Agent Orange presumptive claims.
Symptom documentation describing cold intolerance, fatigue, cognitive symptoms, weight changes, and any cardiovascular symptoms. If you are pursuing the 100% myxedema rating, thorough documentation of the specific manifestations listed in DC 7903 is critical.
DBQ (Disability Benefits Questionnaire) for endocrine conditions. Your treating physician can complete this, and it maps directly to the criteria the VA rater uses.
How to File a VA Hypothyroidism Disability Claim
Step 1: Gather your evidence
Collect medical records, lab results, service records, and any documentation of deployment locations relevant to Agent Orange exposure. If pursuing secondary service connection, get a nexus letter from your doctor.
Step 2: File online at VA.gov
Sign in with your DS Logon, MyHealtheVet, or ID.me account, navigate to "File a VA disability claim," and complete VA Form 21-526EZ. Upload your supporting documents directly through the portal.
Step 3: Attend your C&P exam
The VA will schedule a Compensation and Pension examination. Describe your symptoms thoroughly and accurately, including cold intolerance, fatigue, cognitive effects, and any cardiovascular or mental health symptoms. If you have myxedema-level symptoms, make sure the examiner documents them clearly, since the difference between a 30% and 100% rating depends entirely on this distinction.
Step 4: Review your rating decision
If you disagree with the decision, you have three options: file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, request a Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Step 5: File secondary claims
If you have depression, cardiovascular symptoms, or other conditions related to your hypothyroidism, file those claims at the same time or shortly after your primary claim to build your combined rating.
Tips to Avoid a Denied or Lower Rating
Get your thyroid function tested and documented close to your C&P exam. A current diagnosis with recent lab values gives the examiner clear evidence to work from.
If you served in a location covered by the Agent Orange presumption, make sure your claim explicitly references that exposure and time period. This can significantly simplify your claim by removing the need for a nexus letter.
Do not underreport your symptoms at the C&P exam. If you experience cognitive fog, fatigue, or mood changes, describe them, since these may support secondary mental health claims even if they do not change your primary hypothyroidism rating.
File for secondary conditions separately rather than assuming the VA will automatically consider them. Depression, cardiovascular issues, and sleep apnea related to hypothyroidism require their own claims with supporting medical evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VA disability rating for hypothyroidism?
Under Diagnostic Code 7903, the VA rates hypothyroidism at 30% if there is no myxedema, or 100% if myxedema is present. There is no intermediate rating between these two levels under the current schedule.
Is there a 10% VA rating for hypothyroidism?
No. Under the endocrine system schedule that has been in effect since December 10, 2017, DC 7903 only provides 30% and 100% ratings. Some older or inaccurate sources still reference a 10% tier, but it does not reflect the current regulation.
Can hypothyroidism be presumptively service-connected?
Yes, for veterans exposed to Agent Orange. The VA added hypothyroidism to the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list in 2021, meaning eligible veterans generally do not need to prove a direct medical link if they served in a recognized exposure location and time period. Hypothyroidism is not on the separate PACT Act burn pit presumptive list.
What is myxedema and why does it matter for my rating?
Myxedema is a severe manifestation of advanced hypothyroidism involving cold intolerance, muscular weakness, cardiovascular involvement such as low blood pressure or slow heart rate, and mental disturbance such as dementia-like symptoms or depression. Documenting myxedema is the only way to reach the 100% rating under DC 7903, since the schedule does not have any other path to a rating above 30%.
Can I get a higher combined rating even though hypothyroidism alone caps at 30%?
Yes. Veterans commonly file secondary claims for depression, cardiovascular conditions, sleep apnea, GERD, or thyroid eye disease related to their hypothyroidism. These are rated separately and combined with the hypothyroidism rating using VA math, which can result in a significantly higher overall disability rating.
How long does the VA take to decide a hypothyroidism claim?
Processing times vary, but the VA aims to decide most disability claims within about 125 days as of 2026. Complex claims involving multiple secondary conditions or appeals can take longer. Filing a complete, fully developed claim with all required evidence upfront tends to speed up the process.
Can I receive VA compensation for hypothyroidism and Social Security disability at the same time?
Yes. VA disability compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are separate programs with different eligibility rules. Receiving VA compensation does not disqualify you from SSDI, and vice versa.
