What can I claim secondary to hypothyroidism?
6 conditions in the Repatriation Medical Authority's Statements of Principles list hypothyroidism as a factor. If DVA has accepted your hypothyroidism, each of these has a documented pathway to a further claim.
At a glance
- Accepted conditionHypothyroidism
- Conditions it may open6
- SourceRMA SoPs
- Chart Review$600 + GST
How a secondary claim works
Some Statement of Principles factors are not about service at all — they name another condition. Where DVA has already accepted your hypothyroidism, and another condition's SoP lists hypothyroidism as a factor, that part of the next claim is already established on your file. How a secondary claim works, in full →
Conditions that list hypothyroidism as a factor
Quoted from the instrument. A pathway existing is not the same as a claim succeeding — each factor carries thresholds your record has to satisfy.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
RH No. 93 of 2021 · BoP No. 94 of 2021
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (7): “having hypothyroidism or Hashimoto thyroiditis at the time of the clinical onset of carpal tunnel syndrome” [clinical onset] — factor (24): “having hypothyroidism or Hashimoto thyroiditis at the time of the clinical worsening of carpal tunnel syndrome” [worsening]
This factor appears in the Reasonable Hypothesis instrument only, which applies to operational service.
Ischaemic heart disease
RH No. 27 of 2025 · BoP No. 28 of 2025
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (15): “having hypothyroidism for at least 2 years within the 10 years before clinical onset or clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
This factor appears in the Reasonable Hypothesis instrument only, which applies to operational service.
Note: Hashimoto thyroiditis can cause hypothyroidism.
Morbid obesity
RH No. 43 of 2022 · BoP No. 44 of 2022
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (8): “having hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto thyroiditis that has resulted in hypothyroidism, for at least the 3 months before the clinical onset of morbid obesity” [clinical onset] — factor (22): “having hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto thyroiditis that has resulted in hypothyroidism, for at least the 3 months before the clinical worsening of morbid obesity” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (8): “having hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto thyroiditis that has resulted in hypothyroidism, for at least the 3 months before the clinical onset of morbid obesity” [clinical onset] — factor (21): “having hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto thyroiditis that has resulted in hypothyroidism, for at least the 3 months before the clinical worsening of morbid obesity” [worsening]
Open-angle glaucoma
RH No. 49 of 2021 · BoP No. 50 of 2021
Balance of Probabilities — factor (9): “having: (a) eye disease associated with Graves' disease; or (b) hypothyroidism within the 12 months before the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma” [clinical onset] — factor (18): “having: (a) eye disease associated with Graves' disease; or (b) hypothyroidism within the 12 months before the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma” [worsening]
This condition has a Balance of Probabilities instrument only, so the same test applies whatever your service type.
Sick sinus syndrome
RH No. 66 of 2022 · BoP No. 67 of 2022
Balance of Probabilities — factor (13): “having hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto thyroiditis that has resulted in hypothyroidism, at the time of the clinical onset of sick sinus syndrome” [clinical onset] — factor (31): “having hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto thyroiditis that has resulted in hypothyroidism, at the time of the clinical worsening of sick sinus syndrome” [worsening]
This condition has a Balance of Probabilities instrument only, so the same test applies whatever your service type.
Tinnitus
RH No. 84 of 2020 · BoP No. 85 of 2020
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (38): “having hypothyroidism for at least the three months before the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset] — factor (76): “having hypothyroidism for at least the three months before the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
This factor appears in the Reasonable Hypothesis instrument only, which applies to operational service.
Other accepted conditions that also open carpal tunnel syndrome
If any of these is also on your file, it reaches some of the same conditions hypothyroidism does.
What DVA means by hypothyroidism
A claim is tested against the definition first. If the diagnosis on your file does not meet this wording, the factors below never get reached — so it is worth checking that what your doctor wrote matches what the instrument requires.
Hypothyroidism, for the purposes of the Statement of Principles, for the purposes of this Statement of Principles, hypothyroidism: (a) means a functional disorder in which there is deficiency of thyroid hormone that produces clinical symptoms and signs or warrants medical treatment; and (b) includes: (i) primary hypothyroidism due to dysfunction of the thyroid gland; and (ii) central hypothyroidism due to decreased secretion of thyroid hormone from a functionally normal thyroid gland as a result of hypothalamic or pituitary disease; and (iii) peripheral hypothyroidism due to inactivation of thyroid hormone; and (c) excludes: (i) congenital hypothyroidism; (ii) congenital iodine-deficiency syndrome; (iii) Hashimoto thyroiditis; (iv) sick euthyroid syndrome; (v) subclinical hypothyroidism; and (vi) transient hypothyroidism during recovery from non- thyroidal illness.
Aggravation-only factors. In this instrument, subsections 9(22) to 9(44) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, hypothyroidism where it was already present before or during service. If service caused hypothyroidism outright, those factors are not available to you.
RH No. 3 of 2022 · BoP No. 4 of 2022 · 36 factors
What could support a claim for hypothyroidism?
The Statement of Principles for hypothyroidism names 3 other conditions among its own factors. If any of these is already accepted on your file, it may be the factor that carries a hypothyroidism claim — quoted here from the instrument.
Malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (14): “having a primary or secondary malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland at the time of the clinical onset of hypothyroidism” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (36): “having a primary or secondary malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland at the time of the clinical worsening of hypothyroidism” [worsening]
Hepatitis C
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (18): “having hepatitis C virus infection at the time of the clinical onset of hypothyroidism” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (40): “having hepatitis C virus infection at the time of the clinical worsening of hypothyroidism” [worsening]
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (20): “having posttraumatic stress disorder at the time of the clinical onset of hypothyroidism” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (42): “having posttraumatic stress disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of hypothyroidism” [worsening]
Reviewed by Dr Thomas Perkins
Founding doctor, Veterans Health Centre · former RAAF aviation medical officer · 13 years working exclusively with ADF members and veterans. Full profile →
Hypothyroidism accepted?
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