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The VA orders this exam to verify your diagnosis and measure how severe it is right now. It can shape your rating and your monthly compensation — but it does not decide your claim. A rating specialist weighs it against your full record, and if the exam does not reflect your condition, you can say so and ask the VA to correct it.
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An inherited blood disorder where red blood cells become sickle-shaped and can block blood flow, causing severe pain episodes (crises), anemia, organ damage, and infections. The VA rates sickle cell disease based on how often you have painful crises and the severity of your anemia.
The percentages this diagnostic code can be rated at. Which one applies depends on the findings — no tool here can tell you in advance.
Rated under 38 CFR 4.117, DC 7714. The examiner records findings on the DBQ; a rating specialist makes the decision.
| Rating | Rating criteria | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | In every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. | You are service-connected for sickle cell anemia, but the findings do not meet the requirements for a compensable evaluation — no painful episodes in the past 12-month period and no identifiable organ impairment on examination. This code prints no 0% rung of its own; § 4.31 supplies it: no monthly payment, but the condition is on record and a later increase runs from it. The lowest compensable level under this code is 10 percent. Note also that DC 7714 excludes sickle cell TRAIT alone, without a history of directly attributable pathological findings, as a ratable disability. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 10% | Asymptomatic, established case in remission, but with identifiable organ impairment | Your sickle cell anemia is an established case in remission and you are asymptomatic, but examination identifies organ impairment attributable to the disease. This is the lowest evaluation DC 7714 provides for a ratable case. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 30% | With 1 or 2 painful episodes per 12-month period | You had one or two painful episodes over a 12-month period. Count EPISODES over 12 months — this code is scored on how many painful episodes you had, not on your hemoglobin level. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 60% | With 3 painful episodes per 12-month period or with symptoms precluding other than light manual labor | You had three painful episodes over a 12-month period, OR your symptoms preclude anything other than light manual labor. Either route reaches 60 percent on its own — you do not need both. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 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 | You had at least four painful episodes over a 12-month period occurring in skin, joints, bones or any major organs, caused by hemolysis and sickling, with anemia, thrombosis and infarction, and residual symptoms that preclude even light manual labor. |
What supports this level
| ||
The middle column is our transcription of the criteria at 38 CFR 4.117, DC 7714, condensed for reading. Read the section itself on eCFR before relying on the exact wording. The items under each level are the kinds of evidence that document it — not a VA checklist, and not a prediction of which level applies to you.
Not documenting every painful crisis — keep a pain diary and get medical records for each emergency visit. The number and duration of crises directly determines your rating.
Failing to report chronic organ damage from sickle cell disease — kidney damage, avascular necrosis of the hips, pulmonary hypertension, and retinopathy can each be rated separately.
Not noting that sickle cell disease was aggravated by military service conditions — physical stress, dehydration, altitude, and extreme temperatures can worsen sickle cell disease.
Not filing for all secondary conditions separately — avascular necrosis, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary hypertension, leg ulcers, and stroke are all common complications that qualify for their own ratings.
These apply to every C&P exam, whatever the condition.