Sickle cell anemia
The VA rates Sickle cell anemia under Diagnostic Code 7714 across 4 severity levels, from 10% to 100%. The applicable level depends on the full criteria and the evidence for the condition. These percentages are alternatives, not amounts to add together.
Rating schedule — DC 7714 at a glance
- Minimum rating
- 10%
- Maximum rating
- 100%
- Rating tiers
- 4
- CFR section
- § 4.117
- Body system
- Hematologic & Lymphatic System
- Secondary conditions
- 0
Lowest schedular rating available
Full schedular disability
10%, 30%, 60%, 100%
Where this code is published
None mapped
What are the VA rating criteria for Sickle cell anemia?
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Asymptomatic, established case in remission, but 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 precluding other than light manual labor |
| 100% | 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 |
“With 3 painful episodes per 12-month period or with symptoms precluding other than light manual labor”
What other hematologic & lymphatic conditions does the VA rate?
These diagnostic codes sit next to Sickle cell anemia in 38 CFR Part 4. The rating schedule is ordered anatomically, so neighbouring codes usually cover the same joint, organ, or system, and a claim often involves more than one of them.
- 7705Immune thrombocytopeniaRated up to 100%
- 7706SplenectomyRated up to 20%
- 7709Hodgkin's lymphomaRated up to 100%
- 7710Adenitis, tuberculous, active or inactiveRated up to 0%
- 7712Multiple myelomaRated up to 100%
- 7715Non-Hodgkin's lymphomaRated up to 100%
- 7716Aplastic anemiaRated up to 100%
- 7717AL amyloidosis (primary amyloidosis)Rated up to 100%
- 7718Essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosisRated up to 100%
- 7719Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) (chronic myeloid leukemia or chronic granulocytic leukemia)Rated up to 100%
What to do with a Sickle cell anemia rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
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- The VA C&P Exam Explained: Before, During, and AfterA VA C&P exam helps VA decide service connection and your rating. Here is what happens before, during, and after, plus how to request your exam report.
- VA Service Connection Evidence 101: The Three-Legged StoolFor an original claim tied to active-duty service, VA needs a current disability, an in-service event, and a link between them. Here is what each part takes.
- VA Math Explained: How Combined Disability Ratings Really WorkVA ratings do not add. Learn how 38 CFR 4.25 combines disabilities using whole-person efficiency, why 50 and 30 round to 70, and how the bilateral factor works.
- TDIU: 100 Percent VA Pay Without a 100 Percent RatingTDIU pays the 100% VA compensation rate without a 100% rating. See the percentage paths, the extraschedular route under 38 CFR 4.16(b), and how work affects it.
- P&T vs 100% VA Disability: What Is the Difference?Permanent and total (P&T) and a 100 percent VA rating are not the same thing. Here is what total, permanent, and protected each mean, and what P&T unlocks.
Common Questions About Sickle cell anemia VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Sickle cell anemia?
The VA rates Sickle cell anemia under Diagnostic Code 7714 at 10%, 30%, 60%, 100%. The minimum 10% rating requires: Asymptomatic, established case in remission, but with identifiable organ impairment. The maximum 100% rating requires: 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.
Which 38 CFR diagnostic code does the VA use for Sickle cell anemia?
The VA rates Sickle cell anemia under Diagnostic Code (DC) 7714, published in 38 CFR § 4.117. The diagnostic code establishes the specific rating tiers and severity criteria the VA examiner applies.
What is the difference between a 10% and a 100% rating for Sickle cell anemia?
A 10% rating requires: Asymptomatic, established case in remission, but with identifiable organ impairment. A 100% rating requires: 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. The difference typically reflects the frequency, severity, or functional impact of the condition as documented in medical records and C&P examination findings.
Can Sickle cell anemia qualify for TDIU?
Yes — a 100% rating for Sickle cell anemia alone meets the single-disability threshold for TDIU (38 CFR § 4.16). If the condition prevents substantially gainful employment, the veteran is compensated at the 100% rate without a schedular 100% rating.
What evidence supports a higher rating for Sickle cell anemia?
The key evidence for Sickle cell anemia is documentation of how the condition affects daily functioning. Treatment records showing worsening symptoms, functional limitations documented by your provider, and buddy statements describing observable impact on daily life all strengthen the claim. A nexus letter from a qualified medical professional linking the current severity to service is essential for contested claims.
What happens at the C&P exam for Sickle cell anemia?
The C&P examiner uses a Hematologic & Lymphatic System DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 7714 rating criteria. The examiner documents symptom frequency, severity, and functional impact. Bring all treatment records and describe your worst days, not your best — the VA rates on the full clinical picture across time, not a snapshot of one good day.
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