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If you’re looking for answers about VA disability for blood disorders, we’ve got you covered.
This guide will focus on what blood disorders qualify for VA disability, their VA disability ratings, how to service connect your condition, and how to file a VA claim.
Your VA Claims Insider team always has your back, so let’s get to it!!
Summary of Key Points
- VA ratings of blood disorders are 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 60%, or 100%, depending on the type of blood disorder and the frequency, duration, and severity of symptoms.
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) is one of the most common blood conditions. It is rated by the VA at 10%, 20%, 40%, or 60%.
- It’s possible to service-connect your blood condition if it wasn’t diagnosed until after you left active-duty military service.
Table of Contents
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VA Disability for Blood Disorders
You can find most VA disability ratings for blood disorders under § 4.117 Schedule of ratings—hemic and lymphatic systems, each with their specific diagnostic code (DC).
VA-ratable blood disorders include:
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Anemia
- Polycythemia Vera
- Immune Thrombocytopenia
- Spleen Conditions
- Tuberculosis of the Lymph Nodes
- Leukemia
- Primary amyloidosis
Today, we’ll look closer at the VA rating charts for specific common blood disorders that qualify for VA disability.
Don’t see your condition on the list? Don’t worry!
Check out our post, VA Disability List of Conditions From A to Z, to take a deeper look at VA ratable conditions.
VA Ratings for High Blood Pressure
VA disability ratings for High Blood Pressure are 10%, 20%, 40%, or 60%, depending upon the frequency, severity, and duration of your symptoms.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) is rated under CFR 38, Part 4, VA Schedule of Ratings, Diseases of the Arteries and Veins, Diagnostic Code (DC) 7101.
See our Complete Insider’s Guide: 3 Ways to Get a VA Rating for High Blood Pressure
VA Rating for Anemia
The VA rates anemia at 0%, 10%, 30%, 60%, or 100%, depending on the type and the severity of symptoms.
Since the VA rates the various types of anemia, each condition has its own DC and appropriate ratings. For example, below is the VA rating chart for Sickle Cell Anemia, which the VA rates at 10%, 30%, 60%, and 100%. See also: VA Rating for Anemia—Explained!
| DC 7714, Sickle Cell Anemia | VA Rating |
| With at least 4 or more painful episodes per 12-month period, occurring in skin, joints, bones, or any major organs, caused by hemolysis and sickling of red blood cells, with anemia, thrombosis, and infarction, with residual symptoms precluding even light manual labor | 100% |
| With 3 painful episodes per 12-month period or with symptoms precluding other than light manual labor | 60% |
| With 1 or 2 painful episodes per 12-month period | 30% |
| Asymptomatic, established case in remission, but with identifiable organ impairment | 10% |
VA Disability Rating for Polycythemia Vera
Polycythemia vera VA disability ratings can be 10%, 30%, 60%, or 100%, depending on the severity, frequency, and duration of your symptoms.
In addition, your polycythemia vera VA disability will vary based on how frequently you require therapy for your condition.
| DC 7704, Polycythemia vera | VA Rating |
| Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem-cell transplant or chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants) for the purpose of ameliorating the symptom burden | 100% |
| Requiring phlebotomy 6 or more times per 12-month period or molecularly targeted therapy for the purpose of controlling RBC count | 60% |
| 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 | 30% |
| 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 | 10% |
VA Rating for Immune Thrombocytopenia
The VA rates Immune Thrombocytopenia at 0%, 10%, 30%, 70%, and 100%, depending on your platelet count and other factors.
| DC 7705, Immune Thrombocytopenia | VA Rating |
| Requiring chemotherapy for chronic refractory thrombocytopenia; or a platelet count 30,000 or below despite treatment | 100% |
| 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 | 70% |
| 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 | 30% |
| Platelet count higher than 30,000 but not higher than 50,000, not requiring treatment | 10% |
| Platelet count above 50,000 and asymptomatic; or for immune thrombocytopenia in remission | 0% |
VA Rating for Spleen Conditions
The VA rates spleen conditions at 20% under DC 7706, regardless of whether your spleen was completely or partially removed. If you experience complications, those symptoms will be rated separately under DC 7707.
| DC 7706, Splenectomy | VA Rating |
| Note: Separately rate complications such as systemic infections with encapsulated bacteria | 20% |
| Note: Separately rate complications such as systemic infections with encapsulated bacteria | |
| DC 7707, Spleen injury of, healed | |
| Rate for any residuals. |
VA Rating for Tuberculosis of the Lymph Nodes
Tuberculosis of the Lymph Nodes is rated under DC 7710 at 100% while it’s still active.
Your 100% VA rating will continue for one year before being reexamined and rated based on your lasting symptoms or complications.
VA Rating for Leukemia
The VA rates leukemia at 100% when there is an active disease or if you’re in a treatment phase.
| DC 7703, Leukemia (except for chronic myelogenous leukemia) | VA Rating |
| Otherwise, rate residuals under the appropriate diagnostic code(s) | 100% |
| Otherwise rate residuals under the appropriate diagnostic code(s) | |
| Chronic lymphocytic leukemia or monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL), asymptomatic, Rai Stage 0 | 0% |
VA Rating for Primary Amyloidosis
The VA only rates Primary Amyloidosis at 100% due to Agent Orange exposure. You can find the VA rating for Primary Amyloidosis under CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, DC 7717, Primary amyloidosis.
How to Service Connect Blood Disorders
To receive a blood disorder VA disability rating, you must meet the following requirements:
- A current medical diagnosis of a blood disorder
- An in-service event, injury, illness, or aggravation
- A medical nexus (or link) between the current diagnosis and the in-service event, injury, or illness (can be a Nexus Letter)
How to File a VA Claim for Blood Disorders
The easiest way to file a VA claim for blood disorders is online using VA form 21-526EZ.
But, since that isn’t an option for everyone, the VA has several other methods for filing a VA claim, including:
By mail
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
In-person
You can bring your application to the nearest VA regional office.
By fax
If you’re in the U.S., fax your application to 844-531-7818.
If you’re outside the U.S., fax your application to 248-524-4260.
VA C&P Exam for Blood Disorders
The VA frequently requires veterans to attend a compensation & pension (C&P) exam to help determine if they have a service-connected disability.
Your VA claim for blood disorders may not require a C&P exam unless the VA determines they need more information to decide your claim.
Check out our Top 7 Tips to Prepare for Your VA C&P Exam before your appointment
VA Disability for Blood Disorders Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does the VA rate blood disorders?
The VA rates blood disorders between 0% and 100%, depending on your specific condition and its severity.
What blood disorders quality for VA disability?
There are several blood disorders that qualify for VA disability, including:
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Cancer of the blood and lymph nodes
- Spleen conditions
- Platelet conditions
- Blood cell conditions
- Primary amyloidosis
Can I qualify for VA disability if my blood disorder wasn’t diagnosed until after I was discharged?
Yes! There are several ways you can qualify for VA disability after you’re discharged, including:
- You can prove your condition is directly caused by an in-service event, illness, injury, or aggravation due to your military service.
- Your blood disorder is on the presumptive list, and the VA presumes your military service caused your condition.
- You have developed a blood disorder as a secondary condition to a previously rated service-connected condition.
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Our process takes the guesswork out of filing a VA disability claim and supports you every step of the way in building a fully-developed claim (FDC)—so you can increase your rating FAST!
If you’ve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low rating—or you’re unsure how to get started—reach out to us! Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call. Learn what you’ve been missing—so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation YOU DESERVE!
Kelly Olone
Kelly Olone is a military spouse who earned her degree in Psychology from Florida International University. After working in the non-profit sector for several years, she turned to her passion for writing. She aims to contribute to a better understanding of the valuable benefits that veterans deserve. As a mom, Kelly navigates the delicate balance between deadlines and bedtime stories with finesse.
