Body system: Endocrine SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.119
Hyperparathyroidism is when your parathyroid glands (small glands in your neck) produce too much hormone, causing high calcium levels in your blood. The VA rates this condition based on how severe your symptoms are and whether you've had surgery. You can get 100% for six months after surgery, 60% if you have dangerous calcium levels or bone problems, 10% if you still have symptoms after treatment, or 0% if you have no symptoms.
Rating levels
- 100% — If you have surgery for hyperparathyroidism (a condition where glands in your neck produce too much of a hormone that controls calcium levels), you automatically qualify for this rating for the first six months after you're discharged from the hospital. This temporary rating recognizes that you need time to recover from the surgery and that your body needs time to adjust, regardless of how well you're feeling during this recovery period.
- 60% — You qualify for this rating if blood tests show you have too much calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia), which can be measured through either total calcium or ionized calcium levels being above normal limits. You also qualify if hyperparathyroidism has caused kidney problems (creatinine clearance showing your kidneys aren't filtering waste properly), significant bone loss (bone density scans showing osteoporosis), or if you've had bones break easily from minor injuries (fragility fractures). Any one of these conditions is enough to meet the criteria.
- 10% — You qualify if you still experience symptoms like being extremely tired, loss of appetite, feeling sick to your stomach, or having trouble with bowel movements even after having surgery to treat your hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid glands that control calcium levels). You also qualify if you can't have surgery but need to take medication continuously to keep your condition under control.
- 0% — You have hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid glands that control calcium levels in your body), but you don't experience any noticeable symptoms from it. Your condition may only be detectable through blood tests or other medical exams, but it doesn't cause you any physical problems, pain, or limitations in your daily activities.