Anemia
When there are not enough healthy red blood cells in the blood.
Rating Schedule for Hematologic and Lymphatic Systems (The Blood)
Makes the green grass grow.
7714 Sickle Cell Anemia (Sickle Cell Disease)
Anemia where the red blood cells become shaped like a sickle.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
In order to get service-connection the Veteran MUST have served in a location that can be linked as to the cause of the sickle cell. This is due to the fact that sickle cell can be caused by the Veteran's own genes.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Symptoms no longer present but an established case is now in remission, with identifiable organ impairment. |
| 30% | With 1 or 2 painful episodes per 12-month period. |
| 60% | With 3 painful episodes per 12-month period or with symptoms so severe that nothing more than light manual labor can be preformed. |
| 100% | With 4 or more painful episodes per 12-month period, occurring in skin, joints, bones, or any major organs, caused by breakdown of blood cells and sickling of red blood cells, with anemia, thrombosis, and infarction, with residual symptoms preventing even light manual labor. |
7716 Aplastic Anemia (Bone Marrow Aplasia)
Bone marrow not making enough new blood cells.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The 100% evaluation for peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant will continue for 6 months after the Veteran is released from the hospital. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Requires continuous medication. |
| 30% | Requiring transfusion of platelets or red blood cells, on average, at least once per 12-month period; OR infections recurring, on average, at least once per 12-month period. |
| 60% | Requiring transfusion of platelets or red blood cells, on average, at least once every 3 months per 12-month period; OR infections recurring, on average, at least once every 3 months per 12-month period; OR using continuous therapy with immunosuppressive agent or newer platelet stimulating factors. |
| 100% | Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant; OR requiring transfusion of platelets or red cells, on average, at least once every 6 weeks per 12-month period; OR infections recurring, on average, at least once every 6 weeks per 12-month period. |
7720 Iron Deficiency Anemia
Occurs when your body doesn't have enough iron.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 0% | No symptoms or can be treated by changing diet. |
| 10% | Requiring intravenous iron infusions 1-3 times per 12-month period; OR requires continuous treatment with oral supplements. |
| 100% | Requiring intravenous iron infusions 4 or more times per 12-month period. |
7722 Addison's Anemia (Pernicious Anemia, Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia)
When the body can't absorb enough vitamin B-12.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
This 100% rating IS temporary, and will continue for 6 months after release from hospital or at the end of the parenteral B12 therapy. At which time the Veteran will be Reevaluated. This condition will then receive a 10% rating, if the 100% criteria is no longer meet.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Requiring continuous treatment with Vitamin B12 injections, Vitamin B12 sublingual or high-dose oral tablets, or Vitamin B12 nasal spray or gel. |
| 100% | For initial diagnosis requiring transfusion due to severe anemia; OR if there are signs or symptoms related to central nervous system impairment, such as encephalopathy, myelopathy, or severe peripheral neuropathy, requiring parenteral B12 therapy. |
Common secondary conditions
The following secondary conditions CAN receive their own individual ratings:
7723 Acquired Hemolytic Anemia (Extrinsic Hemolytic Anemia)
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The 100% evaluation for bone marrow transplant will continue for 6 months after the Veteran is released from the hospital. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 0% | No symptoms. |
| 10% | Requiring 1 course of immunosuppressive therapy per 12-month period. |
| 30% | Requiring 2-3 courses of immunosuppressive therapy per 12-month period. |
| 60% | Requiring immunosuppressive medication 4 or more times per 12-month period. |
| 100% | Requiring a bone marrow transplant or continuous intravenous or immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., prednisone, Cytoxan, azathioprine, or rituximab). |
7704 Polycythemia Vera
Bone marrow produces too many red blood cells.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
The 100% evaluation IS TEMPORARY and will continue for 6 months after the Veteran is released from the hospital/treatment ends. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
Chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants) warrants a 100% evaluation for 6 months after treatment ends. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
If this condition becomes cancerous the Veteran will be rated under Leukemia instead of this schedule.
Red Blood Cells
Carries gasses throughout the blood.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Requiring phlebotomy 3 or fewer times per 12-month period or if requiring biologic therapy or interferon on an intermittent basis as needed to maintain all blood values at reference range levels. |
| 30% | Requiring phlebotomy 4-5 times per 12-month period, or if requiring continuous biologic therapy or myelosuppressive agents, to include interferon, to maintain platelets <200,000 or white blood cells (WBC) <12,000. |
| 60% | Requiring phlebotomy 6 or more times per 12-month period or molecularly targeted therapy for the purpose of controlling RBC count. |
| 100% | Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem-cell transplant or chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants) for the purpose of decreasing symptoms. |
Common secondary conditions
For the following conditions. The Veteran can receive individual ratings for each condition!
White Blood Cells
Stuff that helps your immune system.
7702 Agranulocytosis (Agranulosis, Granulopenia, Leukopenia)
Condition where the bone marrow does not produce enough white blood cells.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The 100% evaluation for bone marrow transplant will continue for 6 months after the Veteran is released from the hospital. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Requiring continuous medication (e.g., antibiotics) for control; OR requiring intermittent use of a myeloid growth factor to maintain absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1500/µl. |
| 30% | Requiring intermittent myeloid growth factors to maintain ANC greater than 1000/µl; OR infections recurring, on average, at least once per 12-month period but less than once every 3 months per 12-month period. |
| 60% | Requiring intermittent myeloid growth factors (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or continuous immunosuppressive therapy such as cyclosporine to maintain (ANC) greater than 500/microliter (µl) but less than 1000/µl; OR infections recurring, on average, at least once every 3 months per per 12-month period. |
| 100% | Requiring bone marrow transplant; OR infections recurring, on average, at least once every 6 weeks per 12-month period. |
7719 Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia)
Condition where the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
The 100% evaluation for peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant will continue for 6 months after the Veteran is released from the hospital. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
Chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants) or interferon treatment warrants a 100% evaluation for 6 months after treatment ends. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
If this condition becomes cancerous the Veteran will be rated under Leukemia instead of this schedule.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 30% | In apparent remission on continuous molecularly targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. |
| 60% | Requiring intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or molecularly targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or interferon treatment when not in apparent remission. |
| 100% | Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant, or continuous myelosuppressive or immunosuppressive therapy treatment. |
Platelets
Helps stop bleeding by forming blood clots.
7705 Low Platelet Level (Immune Thrombocytopenia, Thrombocytopenia)
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The 100% evaluation for chemotherapy will continue for 6 months after treatment ends. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 0% | Platelet count above 50,000 and asymptomatic; OR for immune thrombocytopenia in remission. |
| 10% | Platelet count higher than 30,000 but not higher than 50,000, not requiring treatment. |
| 30% | Platelet count higher than 30,000 but not higher than 50,000, with either immune thrombocytopenia or mild mucous membrane bleeding which requires oral corticosteroid therapy or intravenous immune globulin. |
| 70% | Requiring immunosuppressive therapy; OR for a platelet count higher than 30,000 but not higher than 50,000, with history of hospitalization because of severe bleeding requiring intravenous immune globulin, high-dose parenteral corticosteroids, and platelet transfusions. |
| 100% | Requiring chemotherapy for chronic refractory thrombocytopenia; OR a platelet count 30,000 or below despite treatment. |
7718 Essential Thrombocythemia & Primary Myelofibrosis
Body produces too many platelets. | Bone marrow is unable to make enough normal blood cells
IMPORTANT NOTES:
The 100% evaluation for peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant will continue for 6 months after the Veteran is released from the hospital. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
Chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants) or interferon treatment warrants a 100% evaluation for 6 months after treatment ends. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
If this condition becomes cancerous the Veteran will be rated under Leukemia instead of this schedule.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 0% | No symptoms. |
| 30% | Requiring continuous or intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment to maintain platelet count of 200,000-400,000, or white blood cell (WBC) count of 4,000-10,000. |
| 70% | Requiring continuous or intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment to maintain platelet count <500 × 109/L. |
| 100% | Requiring either continuous myelosuppressive therapy or, for 6 months following hospital admission, peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment. |
7710 Tuberculous Adenitis (Tuberculosis of the Lymph Nodes, TB Adenitis, Crofula)
Tuberculous infection of the lymph nodes in the neck.
Miscellaneous Conditions
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| ?% | After the temporary 100% ends the Veteran will be rated based on residuals of the TB or the treatment itself. |
| 100% | For 1 year after TB goes inactive. |
| 100% | While active. |
Cancer & Tumors of the Blood and Lymph Nodes
7703 Leukemia (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, CLL)
Cancer of the blood or bone marrow that causes the over-production of immature white blood cells.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
While the condition may be ‘active’ if the condition is considered “asymptomatic, Rai Stage 0” then a 0%, NOT 100% will be awarded!
Chronic myelogenous leukemia is NOT rated under this schedule.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 0% | Chronic lymphocytic leukemia or monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL), asymptomatic, Rai Stage 0. |
| ?% | After the temporary 100% ends the Veteran will be rated based on residuals of the leukemia or the treatment itself. |
| 100% | While active and for 6 months after condition goes into remission/treatment stops. |
Residuals will be rated under one or more of the following schedules:
7709 Hodgkin’s Disease (Hodgkin's Lymphoma)
Cancer of the part of the immune system called the lymphatic system.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| ?% | After the temporary 100% ends the Veteran will be rated based on residuals of the cancer or the treatment itself. |
| 100% | While active and for 6 months after condition goes into remission/treatment stops. |
7725 Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS, Preleukemia)
Blood cancer.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
The 100% evaluation for peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant will continue for 6 months after the Veteran is released from the hospital. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
Chemotherapy warrants a 100% evaluation for 6 months after treatment ends. After which, the Veteran will have a MANDATORY Reevaluation.
If this condition becomes cancerous the Veteran will be rated under Leukemia instead of this schedule.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 30% | Requiring 1-3 blood or platelet transfusions per 12-month period; OR infections requiring hospitalization 1-2 times per 12-month period; OR requiring biologic therapy on an ongoing basis or erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) for 12 weeks or less per 12-month period. |
| 60% | Requiring 4 or more blood or platelet transfusions per 12-month period; OR infections requiring hospitalization 3 or more times per 12-month period. |
| 100% | Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant; OR requiring chemotherapy. |
7712 Kahler's Disease (Bone Marrow Cancer, Multiple Myeloma)
A cancer of plasma cells.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
5 YEARS from the time of diagnosis WITH symptoms is when a MANDATORY Reevaluation is required.
Meaning if you are service-connected 4 years AFTER symptoms start, you will be reevaluated in a year.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 0% | Asymptomatic, smoldering, or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). |
| ?% | After the temporary 100% ends the Veteran will be rated based on residuals of the cancer or the treatment itself. |
| 100% | Symptoms are present. |
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