Claim Raven explanation
What this means
This section contains criteria for blood and lymphatic system conditions. Depending on the code, evaluations may turn on laboratory findings, treatment needs, recurrent infections, disease activity, or lasting effects.
The schedules are condition-specific. A treatment used for one blood disorder does not automatically establish the evaluation for another, and temporary treatment-related ratings may have their own review instructions.
How this helps your claim
This helps you identify the particular records that support the evaluation method VA used. Read the code with the treatment history and the relevant measurements over time.
What to check in your records
Use your decision, examination reports, and relevant records to check the following points.
- Find the blood or lymphatic diagnosis and diagnostic code.
- Locate dated laboratory results and the documented treatment course.
- Read notes concerning active disease, residuals, and follow-up examinations.
Read disease activity and treatment in their proper period
Blood and lymphatic disorders can have active treatment periods and later residual effects. The diagnostic code may use different findings at each stage. Keep laboratory results, treatment dates and the clinician's description of activity tied to the period being evaluated.
A medication or procedure used for one disorder should not be assumed to meet another code's requirements. The diagnosis and the purpose of treatment matter. Read any reevaluation instructions with the original award so a temporary treatment-related evaluation is not mistaken for an unconditional permanent level.
Does an abnormal blood count determine the rating by itself?
Not generally across this schedule. Some codes use particular laboratory findings, while others rely on treatment or additional clinical circumstances. Use the complete criteria for the diagnosed disorder. An isolated result should not be converted into a universal blood-disability percentage.
Official regulatory text
38 CFR § 4.117
eCFR snapshot: September 3, 2026. Layout and spacing are adapted for reading. The full section and its tables are included below.
Jump to a diagnostic code (21)
- 7702 Agranulocytosis, acquired:
- 7703 Leukemia (except for chronic myelogenous leukemia):
- 7704 Polycythemia vera:
- 7705 Immune thrombocytopenia:
- 7706 Splenectomy
- 7707 Spleen, injury of, healed.
- 7709 Hodgkin's lymphoma:
- 7710 Adenitis, tuberculous, active or inactive:
- 7712 Multiple myeloma:
- 7714 Sickle cell anemia:
- 7715 Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma:
- 7716 Aplastic anemia:
- 7717 AL amyloidosis (primary amyloidosis)
- 7718 Essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis:
- 7719 Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) (chronic myeloid leukemia or chronic granulocytic leukemia):
- 7720 Iron deficiency anemia:
- 7721 Folic acid deficiency:
- 7722 Pernicious anemia and Vitamin B 12 deficiency anemia:
- 7723 Acquired hemolytic anemia:
- 7724 Solitary plasmacytoma:
- 7725 Myelodysplastic syndromes:
§ 4.117 Schedule of ratings—hemic and lymphatic systems.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Rating | |
|---|---|
| 7702 Agranulocytosis, acquired: | |
| Requiring bone marrow transplant; or infections recurring, on average, at least once every six weeks per 12-month period | 100 |
| 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 absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than 500/microliter (µl) but less than 1000/µl; or infections recurring, on average, at least once every three months per 12-month period | 60 |
| 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 three months per 12-month period | 30 |
| Requiring continuous medication (e.g., antibiotics) for control; or requiring intermittent use of a myeloid growth factor to maintain ANC greater than or equal to 1500/µl | 10 |
| Note: A 100 percent evaluation for bone marrow transplant shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission and shall continue with a mandatory VA examination six months following hospital discharge. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter | |
| 7703 Leukemia (except for chronic myelogenous leukemia): | |
| When there is active disease or during a treatment phase | 100 |
| Otherwise rate residuals under the appropriate diagnostic code(s) | |
| Chronic lymphocytic leukemia or monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL), asymptomatic, Rai Stage 0 | 0 |
| Note (1): A 100 percent evaluation shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgical therapy, radiation therapy, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic procedures. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no recurrence, rate on residuals | |
| Note (2): Evaluate symptomatic chronic lymphocytic leukemia that is at Rai Stage I, II, III, or IV the same as any other leukemia evaluated under this diagnostic code | |
| Note (3): Evaluate residuals of leukemia or leukemia therapy under the appropriate diagnostic code(s). Myeloproliferative Disorders: (Diagnostic Codes 7704, 7718, 7719) | |
| 7704 Polycythemia vera: | |
| 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 |
| Note (1): Rate complications such as hypertension, gout, stroke, or thrombotic disease separately | |
| Note (2): If the condition undergoes leukemic transformation, evaluate as leukemia under diagnostic code 7703 | |
| Note (3): A 100 percent evaluation shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission for peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant; or during the period of treatment with chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants). Six months following hospital discharge or, in the case of chemotherapy treatment, six months after completion of treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter | |
| 7705 Immune thrombocytopenia: | |
| 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 |
| Note (1): Separately evaluate splenectomy under diagnostic code 7706 and combine with an evaluation under this diagnostic code | |
| Note (2): A 100 percent evaluation shall continue beyond the cessation of chemotherapy. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter | |
| 7706 Splenectomy | 20 |
| Note: Separately rate complications such as systemic infections with encapsulated bacteria | |
| Note: Separately rate complications such as systemic infections with encapsulated bacteria | |
| 7707 Spleen, injury of, healed. | |
| Rate for any residuals. | |
| 7709 Hodgkin's lymphoma: | |
| With active disease or during a treatment phase | 100 |
| Note: A 100 percent evaluation shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgical therapy, radiation therapy, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic procedures. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, rate on residuals under the appropriate diagnostic code(s) | |
| 7710 Adenitis, tuberculous, active or inactive: | |
| Rate under § 4.88c or 4.89 of this part, whichever is appropriate | |
| 7712 Multiple myeloma: | |
| Symptomatic multiple myeloma | 100 |
| Asymptomatic, smoldering, or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) | 0 |
| Note (1): Current validated biomarkers of symptomatic multiple myeloma and asymptomatic multiple myeloma, smoldering, or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) are acceptable for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma as defined by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) | |
| Note (2): The 100 percent evaluation shall continue for five years after the diagnosis of symptomatic multiple myeloma, at which time the appropriate disability evaluation shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) and § 3.344 (a) and (b) of this chapter | |
| 7714 Sickle cell anemia: | |
| 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 |
| Note: Sickle cell trait alone, without a history of directly attributable pathological findings, is not a ratable disability. Cases of symptomatic sickle cell trait will be forwarded to the Director, Compensation Service, for consideration under § 3.321(b)(1) of this chapter | |
| 7715 Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: | |
| When there is active disease, during treatment phase, or with indolent and non-contiguous phase of low grade NHL | 100 |
| Note: A 100 percent evaluation shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgical therapy, radiation therapy, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic procedures. Two years after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no recurrence, rate on residuals under the appropriate diagnostic code(s) | |
| 7716 Aplastic anemia: | |
| Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant; or requiring transfusion of platelets or red cells, on average, at least once every six weeks per 12-month period; or infections recurring, on average, at least once every six weeks per 12-month period | 100 |
| Requiring transfusion of platelets or red cells, on average, at least once every three months per 12-month period; or infections recurring, on average, at least once every three months per 12-month period; or using continuous therapy with immunosuppressive agent or newer platelet stimulating factors | 60 |
| Requiring transfusion of platelets or red cells, on average, at least once per 12-month period; or infections recurring, on average, at least once per 12-month period | 30 |
| Note (1): A 100 percent evaluation for peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission and shall continue with a mandatory VA examination six months following hospital discharge. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter | |
| Note (2): The term “newer platelet stimulating factors” includes medication, factors, or other agents approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration | |
| 7717 AL amyloidosis (primary amyloidosis) | 100 |
| 7718 Essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis: | |
| Requiring either continuous myelosuppressive therapy, or, for six months following hospital admission for any of the following treatments: peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment | 100 |
| Requiring continuous or intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment to maintain platelet count <500 × 10 9 /L | 70 |
| 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 | 30 |
| Asymptomatic | 0 |
| Note (1): If the condition undergoes leukemic transformation, evaluate as leukemia under diagnostic code 7703. | |
| Note (2): A 100 percent evaluation shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission for peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant; or during the period of treatment with chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants) or interferon treatment. Six months following hospital discharge or, in the case of chemotherapy treatment, six months after completion of treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. | |
| 7719 Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) (chronic myeloid leukemia or chronic granulocytic leukemia): | |
| Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant, or continuous myelosuppressive or immunosuppressive therapy treatment | 100 |
| Requiring intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or molecularly targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or interferon treatment when not in apparent remission | 60 |
| In apparent remission on continuous molecularly targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors | 30 |
| Note (1): If the condition undergoes leukemic transformation, evaluate as leukemia under diagnostic code 7703 | |
| Note (2): A 100 percent evaluation shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission for peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant; or during the period of treatment with chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants). Six months following hospital discharge or, in the case of chemotherapy treatment, six months after completion of treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105 of this chapter | |
| 7720 Iron deficiency anemia: | |
| Requiring intravenous iron infusions 4 or more times per 12-month period | 30 |
| Requiring intravenous iron infusions at least 1 time but less than 4 times per 12-month period, or requiring continuous treatment with oral supplementation | 10 |
| Asymptomatic or requiring treatment only by dietary modification | 0 |
| Note: Do not evaluate iron deficiency anemia due to blood loss under this diagnostic code. Evaluate iron deficiency anemia due to blood loss under the criteria for the condition causing the blood loss | |
| 7721 Folic acid deficiency: | |
| Requiring continuous treatment with high-dose oral supplementation | 10 |
| Asymptomatic or requiring treatment only by dietary modification | 0 |
| 7722 Pernicious anemia and Vitamin B 12 deficiency anemia: | |
| 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 B 12 therapy | 100 |
| Requiring continuous treatment with Vitamin B 12 injections, Vitamin B 12 sublingual or high-dose oral tablets, or Vitamin B 12 nasal spray or gel | 10 |
| Note: A 100 percent evaluation for pernicious anemia and Vitamin B 12 deficiency shall be assigned as of the date of the initial diagnosis requiring transfusion due to severe anemia or parenteral B 12 therapy and shall continue with a mandatory VA examination six months following hospital discharge or cessation of parenteral B 12 therapy. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. Thereafter, evaluate at 10 percent and separately evaluate any residual effects of pernicious anemia, such as neurologic involvement causing peripheral neuropathy, myelopathy, dementia, or related gastrointestinal residuals, under the most appropriate diagnostic code | |
| 7723 Acquired hemolytic anemia: | |
| Requiring a bone marrow transplant or continuous intravenous or immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., prednisone, Cytoxan, azathioprine, or rituximab) | 100 |
| Requiring immunosuppressive medication 4 or more times per 12-month period | 60 |
| Requiring at least 2 but less than 4 courses of immunosuppressive therapy per 12-month period | 30 |
| Requiring one course of immunosuppressive therapy per 12-month period | 10 |
| Asymptomatic | 0 |
| Note (1): A 100 percent evaluation for bone marrow transplant shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission and shall continue for six months after hospital discharge with a mandatory VA examination six months following hospital discharge. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter | |
| Note (2): Separately evaluate splenectomy under diagnostic code 7706 and combine with an evaluation under diagnostic code 7723 | |
| 7724 Solitary plasmacytoma: | |
| Solitary plasmacytoma, when there is active disease or during a treatment phase | 100 |
| Note (1): A 100 percent evaluation shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgical therapy, radiation therapy, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic procedures (including autologous stem cell transplantation). Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no recurrence, rate residuals under the appropriate diagnostic codes | |
| Note (2): Rate a solitary plasmacytoma that has developed into multiple myeloma as symptomatic multiple myeloma | |
| Note (3): Rate residuals of plasma cell dysplasia (e.g., thrombosis) and adverse effects of medical treatment (e.g., neuropathy) under the appropriate diagnostic codes | |
| 7725 Myelodysplastic syndromes: | |
| Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant; or requiring chemotherapy | 100 |
| Requiring 4 or more blood or platelet transfusions per 12-month period; or infections requiring hospitalization 3 or more times per 12-month period | 60 |
| Requiring at least 1 but no more than 3 blood or platelet transfusions per 12-month period; infections requiring hospitalization at least 1 but no more than 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 | 30 |
| Note (1): If the condition progresses to leukemia, evaluate as leukemia under diagnostic code 7703 | |
| Note (2): A 100 percent evaluation shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission for peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant, or during the period of treatment with chemotherapy, and shall continue with a mandatory VA examination six months following hospital discharge or, in the case of chemotherapy treatment, six months after completion of treatment. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no recurrence, residuals will be rated under the appropriate diagnostic codes | |
[60 FR 49227, Sept. 22, 1995, as amended at 77 FR 6467, Feb. 8, 2012; 79 FR 2100, Jan. 13, 2014; 83 FR 54254, Oct. 29, 2018; 83 FR 54881, Nov. 1, 2018; 87 FR 61248, Oct. 11, 2022]
Related references
- 38 CFR § 3.105: VA decision revision, CUE, and rating reductions
- 38 CFR § 4.88c: Inactive nonpulmonary tuberculosis: later entitlement
- 38 CFR § 3.344: Stabilized VA Ratings and Reduction Protections
- 38 CFR § 3.321: Extraschedular VA Ratings Explained
- 38 CFR § 4.1: What a VA disability rating measures
- 38 CFR § 3.159: VA duty to assist: records and examinations
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