Can You Get a VA Disability Rating for Thrombocytopenia?

If you’re a veteran living with thrombocytopenia, you may be wondering if your condition qualifies for VA disability benefits. In some cases, thrombocytopenia can be linked to service-related conditions such as hepatitis C or certain medications.

In this article, we discuss what thrombocytopenia is, how it can affect your life, and how you can apply for a thrombocytopenia VA disability rating.

What is thrombocytopenia?

Thrombocytopenia is a blood disorder characterized by a very low platelet count. Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are colorless blood cells responsible for clumping together to form clots to stop bleeding. 

For males, thrombocytopenia is a platelet count lower than approximately 135,000 platelets per microliter of blood. For females, low platelet count is lower than approximately 157,000 platelets per microliter of blood. 

Some people with low platelet count experience few to no symptoms. However, if platelet count gets too low, there’s a much higher risk of serious bleeding following injuries or during surgeries. 

The thrombocytopenia VA disability rating

The VA rates thrombocytopenia using diagnostic code 7705 in the Schedule of Ratings for the hemic and lymphatic systems.

Potential ratings include 0%, 10%, 30%, 70%, and 100% disabling, depending on how low your platelet count is, and what type of treatment is required to control your condition.

Below is a detailed explanation of the thrombocytopenia disability rating criteria:

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
Requiring chemotherapy for chronic refractory thrombocytopenia; or a platelet count 30,000 or below despite treatment	100%	$3,938.58
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%	$1,808.45
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%	$552.47
Platelet count higher than 30,000 but not higher than 50,000, not requiring treatment	10%	$180.42
Platelet count above 50,000 and asymptomatic; or for immune thrombocytopenia in remission	0%	None

Thrombocytopenia and related conditions

For veterans, thrombocytopenia may sometimes be linked to other service-related health issues. It’s possible another health condition has caused your thrombocytopenia, or that your thrombocytopenia has led to other health issues.

Either way, learning about thrombocytopenia and related conditions can help you understand whether you may be owed additional VA disability compensation.

Hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C and its treatment can cause problems including low platelet counts. Thrombocytopenia is especially common in patients with advanced liver disease. When platelet levels are too low, it may prevent doctors from doing certain procedures, such as liver biopsies, to treat hepatitis C. Thrombocytopenia can also make existing bleeding issues more dangerous.

Rheumatoid arthritis medications

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease. In many cases, medications used to treat RA suppress the bone marrow’s ability to produce blood cells, including platelets. This can cause thrombocytopenia.

Lupus

Lupus is a chronic disease in which the body attacks its own healthy tissues and organs. Having lupus can increase the risk of developing thrombocytopenia if the body mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy blood platelets.

Epilepsy and seizures

Because veterans are more at risk of experiencing a traumatic brain injury (TBI), they may also be more prone to seizures and epilepsy, as TBI is a major risk factor. Studies show that certain medications used to treat seizures and epilepsy, including valproic acid (VA), can cause thrombocytopenia.

Getting thrombocytopenia VA disability

If you’re a veteran with a thrombocytopenia diagnosis, you may be eligible for monthly VA disability compensation. 

To receive a VA disability rating, you must prove that your thrombocytopenia was caused by military service. You may be able to service connect your thrombocytopenia directly or secondarily through a related health condition, including the conditions mentioned above.

In order to get benefits, you’ll need to submit an application for VA benefits, including any evidence to support your claim. Evidence may help prove your thrombocytopenia is connected to your service or show the severity of the condition.

Examples of evidence include:

• Your DD214 or other military separation documents
• Your service treatment records
• Medical records from after separation. These may be from the VA or your private health care provider.
• Lay statements from friends, family, coworkers, and others who can speak on how your thrombocytopenia has affected your life

Once your application and supporting evidence has been submitted, the VA will review it and make a decision. 

If you disagree with a decision either because it is an outright denial or because you believe you’ve been awarded a rating that is too low, you have the right to appeal.

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TDIU for thrombocytopenia

In some cases, a veteran may be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for thrombocytopenia. TDIU is also known as individual unemployability or simply IU. Veterans are eligible for these benefits if they can’t hold down “substantially gainful” employment due to their service-connected conditions.

Severe thrombocytopenia impairs the body’s ability to fight infections resulting in frequent illnesses which may leave you too unwell to consistently work. You may also have additional service-connected illnesses, and the combination of your symptoms may make working impossible.

Veterans who receive TDIU benefits are compensated at the same level as those with a 100% disability rating, even though their combined rating is below 100%.

Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:

• At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
• Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more

How Woods & Woods can help

Our team of VA-accredited attorneys, legal analysts, case managers, and intake specialists help veterans nationwide get the benefits they deserve. If you’re tired of appealing one VA decision after another, call us today for a free case evaluation.

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