Common symptoms
- ▸Fatigue, weight change, or temperature intolerance
- ▸Increased thirst, urination, or appetite (diabetes)
- ▸Mood or cognitive changes
- ▸Joint pain or stiffness (gout)
Common evidence
- ▸Endocrinology evaluation and labs
- ▸Medication records (insulin, thyroid replacement, etc.)
- ▸Service medical records
- ▸Exposure documentation for presumptive claims
Primary service connection examples
- ▸Agent Orange exposure (Type 2 diabetes is presumptive)
- ▸In-service endocrine diagnosis or treatment
Secondary service connection examples
- ▸Peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, ED, kidney disease secondary to diabetes
- ▸Cardiac or weight conditions secondary to thyroid disorders
Rating basics
Rated under 38 CFR §4.119 by severity, required treatment (diet / oral meds / insulin), and complications. Thyroid conditions rated by symptoms and required treatment. Diabetes secondaries are commonly rated higher than the primary.
Common denial reasons
- ✕Missing labs or non-current diagnosis
- ✕Type 1 diabetes (not Agent Orange presumptive)
- ✕Failure to claim secondaries (neuropathy, ED, retinopathy)