Other Endocrine Conditions DBQ explained

What this DBQ covers

This questionnaire covers endocrine conditions other than thyroid, parathyroid and diabetes mellitus disorders. Separate sections address conditions including Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, diabetes insipidus and Addison's disease. These conditions involve different hormones and findings. The diagnosis and disease-specific section help prevent a general symptom, such as fatigue, from being treated as a complete description of the disorder.

The important sections, explained

Use the section for the diagnosed disorder

This broad endocrine form contains separate sections for disorders such as Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, diabetes insipidus and Addison's disease. It also has a section for other endocrine conditions. Each diagnosis can involve different findings, so the full form is not a symptom checklist for you to complete across every disorder. Start with the diagnosis in your specialist record and let the clinician identify the applicable sections and any related residual effects.

Read the official form: page 3

Treatment, tests and changes over time

The testing section includes imaging, laboratory studies and other significant findings. Those results are most useful with their dates and the treatment context. Hormone replacement, surgery or another treatment may change later findings without erasing the earlier history. Keep a short sequence of diagnosis, treatment changes and current symptoms. If several hormone conditions are being evaluated, label the reports by the condition or reason for testing where that is documented.

Read the official form: page 7

How to prepare useful information

Organize endocrine treatment, laboratory results and any acute episodes by date. Explain what symptoms remain despite the prescribed treatment and which activities they affect. Similar-sounding names can refer to different conditions: diabetes insipidus is not diabetes mellitus. Use the diagnosis recorded by the treating clinician, and identify uncertainty rather than selecting a form solely because a name looks familiar.

Records to gather

Start with records you already have. Bring the relevant information to your clinician and explain any gaps or uncertain dates.

• Endocrinology notes identifying the diagnosis and the relevant hormonal testing.
• Medication and replacement-treatment records, including changes over time.
• Admission records or documented episodes and descriptions of ongoing functional limitations.

A detail that is easy to miss

The word diabetes appears in more than one medical diagnosis. Diabetes insipidus is covered in this endocrine form, while diabetes mellitus has its own questionnaire. Check the full diagnosis name on your records before choosing a guide. Also include surgical and follow-up reports together when the current endocrine problem followed treatment for an earlier condition.

Find your way around the official form

These section headings come from the linked VA PDF. Each link opens the page where the section begins. Read the form's own instructions for the full questions and any required attachments.

1. SECTION I - DIAGNOSISPage 1
2. SECTION II - MEDICAL HISTORYPage 3
3. SECTION III - CUSHING'S SYNDROMEPage 3
4. SECTION IV - ACROMEGALYPage 4
5. SECTION V - DIABETES INSIPIDUSPage 4
6. SECTION VI - ADDISON'S DISEASE (ADRENOCORTICAL INSUFFICIENCY)Page 5
7. SECTION VII - OTHER ENDOCRINE CONDITIONSPage 5
8. SECTION VIII - TUMORS AND NEOPLASMSPage 5
9. SECTION IX - OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS, COMPLICATIONS, CONDITIONS, SIGNS, AND SYMPTOMSPage 7
10. SECTION X - DIAGNOSTIC TESTINGPage 7
11. SECTION XI - FUNCTIONAL IMPACTPage 8
12. SECTION XII - REMARKSPage 9
13. SECTION XIII - EXAMINER'S CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATUREPage 9

Who completes the clinical sections?

The healthcare provider completes the clinical assessment, identifies the records reviewed, and signs the questionnaire. You can gather records and describe symptoms and daily limitations. Measurements, diagnoses, and clinical conclusions belong to the examiner.

Check the official form's instructions with your provider before the appointment, including any examination or testing requirements. VA does not pay or reimburse the costs of having a private DBQ completed or submitted.

A completed DBQ can help document the medical condition. Whether it also answers a particular service-connection question depends on its content and the other evidence. VA may verify the form or request another examination.

Common questions

Does this form cover every endocrine disorder?

No. VA provides separate public questionnaires for thyroid and parathyroid conditions and for diabetes mellitus. This form covers other endocrine conditions through its listed sections. The clinician should match the diagnosed condition to the appropriate questionnaire and document other affected systems when needed.

What should I bring after endocrine surgery?

Bring the operative report, later specialist assessment and current hormone-treatment information where relevant. These explain the original condition and any endocrine changes after the procedure. Describe what improved and what remains so the clinician can distinguish the surgical history from current function.

Do abnormal hormone results alone complete the DBQ?

No. Laboratory findings are one part of the assessment. The clinician also records the diagnosis, history, treatment and relevant effects. Bring the actual report with its date and reference information instead of converting an isolated result into a conclusion about severity.