Thyroid Disorder

Alzheimer-type dementia - Thyroid Disorder Factor

In the Reasonable Hypothesis Statement of Principles for Alzheimer-type dementia the requirement is having a thyroid disorder as specified at least 10 years before the clinical onset of Alzheimer-type dementia.

The RMA has defined a "a thyroid disorder as specified" to mean:

(a)  a thyroid stimulating hormone level of at least 5.0 milliunits per litre (mU/L);

(b)  a thyroid stimulating hormone level of less than 0.5 mU/L; or

(c)  serum thyroid peroxidase antibody levels of at least 10 international units per millilitre (IU/ml);

General Information

Thyroid disorders that can cause changes in the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)  and antibody levels are commonly hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, thyroiditis, Graves' disease, goitre, malignant neoplasms, benign neoplasms, and thyroid nodules.

Blood tests are usually required to establish the diagnosis of a thyroid disorder, so these should be available in the person's medical records.  You will need to check that the test result level meets the SOP definition before you can consider the thyroid disorder for this factor.

Last reviewed for CCPS 16 September 2011.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [41447]

41490 there is some evidence that a thyroid disorder may be a factor in the development of the condition under consideration.

41491 the veteran has had a thyroid disorder at some time.

41492 the identified illness or injury, is a thyroid disorder as specified.

41493 the veteran had the identified illness or injury, a thyroid disorder, at least ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

41494  the veteran has established the causal connection between the thyroid disorder and VEA service for the clinical onset of Alzheimer-type dementia.

41495   the veteran has established the causal connection between the thyroid disorder and operational service for the clinical onset of Alzheimer-type dementia.

Clinical onset and operational service [41495]

41496  the identified illness or injury, a thyroid disorder, is causally related to operational service.