Question:
I'm service-connected for obstructive sleep apnea at 50 percent, and now, five years after military retirement, I am diagnosed through my VA doctor with thyroid issues. Looking through my medical record, I do not see any thyroid testing - no mention of TSH testing of any kind that I can find. Should I expect to be declined through VA Disability attaching the thyroid as a secondary condition to OSA, since there is no previous evidence of thyroid issues in my medical records, and because five years have elapsed since military retirement? Would I be best off seeing if my VA doctor would attach notes in my record stating, "more than likely patient developed thyroid issues as a result of his OSA"?
Jim's Reply:
While there is some scientific literature published that demonstrates a possible linkage between thyroid disease and OSA, in much of the literature the thyroid disease was diagnosed prior to the OSA. A limited search of the BVA database for cases similar to yours using key words <obstructive sleep apnea thyroid> didn't show anything
comparable. If you can get a physician who is familiar with your clinical situation to clearly state that your hypothyroidism is caused by OSA, you may have a chance at success with such a claim.
You should also determine exactly what your "thyroid issues" are. The thyroid is a complex gland that serves any number of functions and the diseases associated with it can range from Thyroiditis rated at 0% all the way to Hypoparathyroidism or Hyperparathyroidism rated at 100% disabling. If your VA doctor doesn't commit to your theory, you may consider an Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) from a physician outside the VA system.