38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.117
Polycythemia vera — VA Diagnostic Code 7704
Hematologic / lymphatic
Diagnostic code
7704
38 CFR § 4.117 lists Diagnostic Code 7704 as “Polycythemia vera:” under the heading “Myeloproliferative Disorders: (Diagnostic Codes 7704, 7718, 7719).” The code prints 100, 60, 30, and 10. Appendix B to Part 4 uses “Polycythemia vera.” The 100 percent criteria say “stem-cell.” Note (3) says “stem cell.”
Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.117 source note prints 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.
The rating criteria at each level
7704 Polycythemia vera
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem-cell transplant or chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants) for the purpose of ameliorating the symptom burden
Rating %: 60
Criteria (verbatim). Requiring phlebotomy 6 or more times per 12-month period or molecularly targeted therapy for the purpose of controlling RBC count
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). 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
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). 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
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem-cell transplant or chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants) for the purpose of ameliorating the symptom burden |
| 60 | Requiring phlebotomy 6 or more times per 12-month period or molecularly targeted therapy for the purpose of controlling RBC count |
| 30 | 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 |
| 10 | 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 |
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.
The 100 percent line says “stem-cell.” Note (3) says “stem cell.” The 60 percent line says “6 or more.” The 30 percent line says “4-5.” The 10 percent line says “3 or fewer.” The code does not print a 0 percent line.
38 CFR § 4.31 says that 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. That sentence is the zero-percent rule. It is not a fifth line of DC 7704. 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just.
The heading names three codes. DC 7718 is essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis. DC 7719 is chronic myelogenous leukemia. Those rows print their own criteria. The four lines and three notes above are printed in the polycythemia vera block, before DC 7705. DC 7703 is the leukemia code Note (2) names. Note (1)’s example “hypertension” is not this code. Hypertension has its own page, hypertensive vascular disease.
Note (3) names § 3.105(e) for a reduction based on the mandatory examination. The 100 percent line is the criteria cell. Note (3) is the sentence about when that 100 percent evaluation is assigned and when the examination follows.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.117, Diagnostic Code 7704, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
Stem-cell and stem cell
The 100 percent criteria hyphenate “stem-cell.” Note (3) does not hyphenate “stem cell.” Both sentences are in the polycythemia vera block. This page does not treat them as two different treatments.
Phlebotomy counts
The 60 percent line is 6 or more times per 12-month period, or molecularly targeted therapy for the purpose of controlling RBC count. The 30 percent line is 4-5 times, or the continuous-therapy clause. The 10 percent line is 3 or fewer times, or intermittent biologic therapy or interferon. The 30 percent line writes “4-5” with a hyphen.
Platelets and white blood cells
The 30 percent continuous-therapy clause says “to maintain platelets <200,000 or white blood cells (WBC) <12,000.” The less-than signs are in the regulation. The 10 percent line says “all blood values at reference range levels.”
Evidence that speaks to each level
The treatment the line names
What the rater needs to see. Phlebotomy dates in a 12-month period, or the transplant, chemotherapy, myelosuppressant, molecularly targeted therapy, biologic therapy, or interferon the line names, and the purpose that line states.
Where that usually lives. Hematology notes, the treatment log, and the blood counts the 30 and 10 percent lines mention.
Note (3)’s dates
What the rater needs to see. The hospital admission date for stem cell transplant, or the chemotherapy period, and the discharge or completion date that starts the six-month examination sentence.
Where that usually lives. The admission and discharge records, and the examination Note (3) calls mandatory.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Hematologic and Lymphatic Conditions, Including Leukemia” under Hematologic & Lymphatic. The file is Hematologic and Lymphatic Conditions, Including Leukemia.
The exam form
DC 7704 prints four percentage lines and three notes. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.
Related codes and how they interact
The heading names two other codes.
DC 7718 and DC 7719 are the other codes in “Myeloproliferative Disorders.” DC 7703 is leukemia, which Note (2) uses if polycythemia vera undergoes leukemic transformation. Note (1) says to rate complications such as hypertension, gout, stroke, or thrombotic disease separately.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 lists “Anemia, primary.” It does not contain “polycythemia.” It does not assign DC 7704. “Cardiovascular-renal disease, including hypertension” is a different § 3.309(a) sentence. Note (1) uses hypertension as an example of a complication to rate separately.
Short answers
What is the VA rating for polycythemia vera?
Diagnostic Code 7704 in 38 CFR § 4.117 prints 100, 60, 30, and 10. The lines count phlebotomy in a 12-month period or name the therapy on that line. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
What if polycythemia vera becomes leukemia?
Note (2) says: if the condition undergoes leukemic transformation, evaluate as leukemia under diagnostic code 7703.
FAQ
What percentages does DC 7704 print?
Under 38 CFR § 4.117, polycythemia vera is 100, 60, 30, or 10 percent. The 100 percent line requires peripheral blood or bone marrow stem-cell transplant, or chemotherapy including myelosuppressants, for the purpose of ameliorating the symptom burden. The code does not print a 0 percent line. Education only.
When does Note (3) start the 100 percent evaluation?
Note (3) says 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 six months after completion of chemotherapy, a mandatory VA examination determines the rating. A reduction based on that examination is subject to § 3.105(e).
Is hypertension DC 7704?
No. Note (1) says to rate complications such as hypertension, gout, stroke, or thrombotic disease separately. Section 3.309(a) says “Anemia, primary.” It does not say polycythemia vera.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7704, the 12-month treatment count, and any complication rated under another code.
- The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
- Other hematologic codes are on the hematologic diagnostic-code index.
Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.
Other codes in this body system
Nearby catalog entries in Hematologic / lymphatic, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Hematologic / lymphatic codes
- DC 7702Agranulocytosis, acquired
- DC 7703Leukemia
- DC 7705Immune thrombocytopenia
- DC 7706Splenectomy
- DC 7707Spleen, injury of, healed
- DC 7709Hodgkin's lymphoma
- DC 7710Adenitis, tuberculous
- DC 7712Multiple myeloma
- DC 7714Sickle cell anemia
- DC 7715Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- DC 7716Aplastic anemia
- DC 7717AL amyloidosis (primary amyloidosis)
- DC 7718Essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis
- DC 7719Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) (chronic myeloid leukemia or chronic granulocytic leukemia)
- DC 7720Iron deficiency anemia
- DC 7721Folic acid deficiency
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7704 • va.gov
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.