Graves' Disease

DC 7900Endocrine38 CFR 4.119, DC 7900

An autoimmune disorder causing overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) with symptoms of rapid heartbeat, weight loss, anxiety, tremor, and sometimes bulging eyes. Rated based on residual effects.

Rating Levels

Your Graves’ disease causes thyroid enlargement, tachycardia exceeding 100 beats per minute, eye involvement, muscular weakness, loss of weight, and sympathetic nervous system, cardiovascular, or gastrointestinal symptoms.

What the VA looks for

Thyroid enlargement on exam or imaging
Tachycardia exceeding 100 beats per minute documented
Eye involvement (exophthalmos, Graves’ ophthalmopathy)
Muscular weakness on examination
Documented weight loss
Sympathetic nervous system, cardiovascular, or GI symptoms

Common Pitfalls

⚠After treatment (radioactive iodine or surgery), Graves’ disease may convert to hypothyroidism — file for the new condition as it requires a separate rating.
⚠Thyroid eye disease (Graves’ ophthalmopathy) should be rated separately under eye conditions — do not let it be rolled into the thyroid rating.
⚠Not documenting cardiac complications (atrial fibrillation) as secondary to Graves’ disease.
⚠Residual effects persist even after thyroid is removed or ablated — continue documenting ongoing symptoms.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Thyroid and Parathyroid Conditions

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…

Rating Levels

What the VA looks for

Thyroid enlargement on exam or imaging
Tachycardia exceeding 100 beats per minute documented
Eye involvement (exophthalmos, Graves’ ophthalmopathy)
Muscular weakness on examination
Documented weight loss
Sympathetic nervous system, cardiovascular, or GI symptoms

Common Pitfalls

⚠After treatment (radioactive iodine or surgery), Graves’ disease may convert to hypothyroidism — file for the new condition as it requires a separate rating.

⚠Thyroid eye disease (Graves’ ophthalmopathy) should be rated separately under eye conditions — do not let it be rolled into the thyroid rating.

⚠Not documenting cardiac complications (atrial fibrillation) as secondary to Graves’ disease.

⚠Residual effects persist even after thyroid is removed or ablated — continue documenting ongoing symptoms.