The Blood
Topics:
Overview
Blood Condition Ratings
Overview
The VA awards disability compensation for each condition that is service-connected. The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty. For Reservists, the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify.
The Blood is responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients throughout the entire body while removing waste. If the Blood malfunctions, then the body could be deprived of necessary nutrients or wastes could build up. The Spleen is the organ responsible for filtering the waste from the Blood, and the Lymph Nodes plays a vital role in helping the blood fight infection (and more). Thus, ratings for both the Spleen and Lymph Nodes are included in the Blood codes.
Because the composition and purpose of the Blood is fairly complex, the VASRD offers rating options for Blood conditions that cover a wide range of complications.
To honor the Pyramiding Principle, only a single rating can be given for multiple Blood conditions unless it is possible to clearly and definitively separate the symptoms of multiple conditions. In most cases, conditions will be rated using all of the symptoms combined together, and the VA will choose the single code they feel best covers the overall disability (see The Blood Ratings page).
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Blood Condition Ratings
The VASRD offers ratings for the following conditions of the Blood:
- Anemia
- Blood Cell Conditions
- Platelet Conditions
- Conditions of the Spleen
- Tuberculosis of the Lymph Nodes
- Cancer of the Blood and Lymph Nodes
- Primary amyloidosis
If a condition is not directly listed, it is rated under the code that best describes it or its dominant symptoms.
These codes only cover conditions of the Blood, spleen, and lymph nodes. For conditions of the Heart, see The Heart page. For Artery and Vein conditions, see The Arteries and Veins page.
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FAQs
How will the VA rate my blood condition?
The VA uses the rules of the VASRD to rate blood conditions based on the symptoms they cause. Check out our Blood Conditions Ratings page for the exact codes and ratings.
My condition wasn't diagnosed until after I was discharged. Can it qualify for VA disability?
The VA can only rate conditions that meet some type of service-connection requirement. For conditions diagnosed after service, the condition must either be a secondary condition caused by another service-connected condition, or it must be on the VA's Presumptive List.
Are my conditions eligible for a rating?
Your conditions are eligible to be rated by the VA if they are the result of your military service. You must be able to show proof of service-connection for each condition. For the DoD, they will rate your service-connected conditions as long as they also make you Unfit for Duty.
How do I apply to receive my ratings?
If you are still in the military, then you can request your military physician to refer you to the MEB and start the IDES process. If you are already a veteran, you can submit a VA Disability Claim along with evidence of service-connection and all medical records regarding the conditions on the claim.
If my claim is approved, what benefits will I receive?
If you are rated 20% or less from the DoD, then you will receive a single separation payment. If you are rated 30% or more, you will receive full retirement benefits. From the VA, you will receive a monthly payment as well as full medical care from the VA for the qualifying conditions.
How long does it take to receive my disability benefits?
Brand new claims usually take 3-6 months to process. Once processed, you will start receiving payments in 1-3 months.
How are the rating percentages assigned to my conditions?
The rules of the VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) are used to assign rating percentages to conditions. The VASRD gives rating rules for conditions based on their symptoms, treatment options, and the resulting level of disability they cause.
My conditions have worsened. How do I increase my rating percentages?
If your conditions have worsened since you last applied and now qualify for a higher rating, you can submit a new claim, checking the box for an increased evaluation.
