38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.117
Essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis — VA Diagnostic Code 7718
Hematologic / lymphatic
Diagnostic code
7718
38 CFR § 4.117 lists Diagnostic Code 7718 as “Essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis:”. The lines are 100, 70, 30, and 0. Appendix B to Part 4 uses the same words, with a period instead of the colon. The heading “Myeloproliferative Disorders: (Diagnostic Codes 7704, 7718, 7719)” is in the same table cell as leukemia Note (3), before DC 7704. The four lines under DC 7718 are printed later, after DC 7717.
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
7718 Essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). Requiring either continuous myelosuppressive therapy, or, for six months following hospital admission for any of the following treatments: peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment
Rating %: 70
Criteria (verbatim). Requiring continuous or intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment to maintain platelet count <500 × 10⁹/L
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Requiring continuous or intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment to maintain platelet count of 200,000-400,000, or white blood cell (WBC) count of 4,000-10,000
Rating %: 0
Criteria (verbatim). Asymptomatic
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Requiring either continuous myelosuppressive therapy, or, for six months following hospital admission for any of the following treatments: peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment |
| 70 | Requiring continuous or intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment to maintain platelet count <500 × 10⁹/L |
| 30 | Requiring continuous or intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment to maintain platelet count of 200,000-400,000, or white blood cell (WBC) count of 4,000-10,000 |
| 0 | Asymptomatic |
Note (1): If the condition undergoes leukemic transformation, evaluate as leukemia under diagnostic code 7703.
Note (2): 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) or interferon treatment. 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 9 in the 70 percent line is a superscript. The cell prints 500 × 10, then the 9 above the line, then /L. The less-than sign is part of that cell. The 30 percent line uses a different number style: 200,000-400,000 for the platelet count, and 4,000-10,000 for the white blood cell count. This page does not convert one style into the other. 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.
Note (1) ends with a period. It names DC 7703, leukemia. Note (2) also ends with a period. Its first sentence includes interferon treatment. The next sentence says “in the case of chemotherapy treatment” and does not repeat the word interferon. A reduction follows 38 CFR § 3.105(e). The 100 percent criteria line already contains the words “for six months following hospital admission.” That line does not end with a period.
DC 7718 prints a 0 percent line, “Asymptomatic.” 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. The zero on this code is the line the table prints.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.117, Diagnostic Code 7718, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
The heading is not the criteria
“Myeloproliferative Disorders: (Diagnostic Codes 7704, 7718, 7719)” names three codes. DC 7704 is polycythemia vera. DC 7719 is chronic myelogenous leukemia. Those rows print their own lines. The 100, 70, 30, and 0 lines above are the DC 7718 block.
Stem cell, two words
The DC 7718 100 percent line says “stem cell transplant.” The DC 7704 100 percent line says “stem-cell.” This page keeps the spacing on DC 7718.
Two platelet styles
The 70 percent line says “platelet count <500 × 10⁹/L.” The 30 percent line says “platelet count of 200,000-400,000, or white blood cell (WBC) count of 4,000-10,000.” Both lines say “continuous or intermittent.”
Evidence that speaks to each level
100
What the rater needs to see. Continuous myelosuppressive therapy, or hospital admission for peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant, chemotherapy, or interferon treatment, for the six months the 100 percent line names.
Where that usually lives. The treatment record and the hospital admission.
70, 30, or 0
What the rater needs to see. The therapy named on the 70 or 30 percent line and the platelet or white-blood-cell count that line prints, or the asymptomatic finding on the 0 percent line.
Where that usually lives. The treatment record and the laboratory report that uses the count the line prints.
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 7718 prints four percentage lines and two notes. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.
Related codes and how they interact
Polycythemia vera and chronic myelogenous leukemia are the other named codes.
DC 7704 and DC 7719 are in the myeloproliferative heading. Each prints its own percentages. Note (1) under DC 7718 sends leukemic transformation to DC 7703.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
38 CFR § 3.320b(b)(5) says “Myelofibrosis.” The source note is 90 FR 1901, Jan. 10, 2025. That paragraph does not say essential thrombocythemia, and it does not assign DC 7718. The schedule title names both essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis. The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “thrombocythemia” or “myelofibrosis.” Section 3.309(a) says “Anemia, primary.” That name is not this title.
Short answers
What is the VA rating for essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis?
Under 38 CFR § 4.117, Diagnostic Code 7718 prints 100, 70, 30, and 0. Note (1) evaluates leukemic transformation as leukemia under DC 7703. Note (2) states when the 100 percent evaluation is assigned and points a later reduction to § 3.105(e). Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Is this the same block as polycythemia vera?
No. The myeloproliferative heading names DC 7704, DC 7718, and DC 7719. DC 7704 prints its own 100, 60, 30, and 10 lines. DC 7718 prints 100, 70, 30, and 0.
FAQ
What percentages does DC 7718 print?
100, 70, 30, and 0. The 100 percent line is continuous myelosuppressive therapy, or six months after hospital admission for stem cell transplant, chemotherapy, or interferon treatment. The 70 and 30 percent lines name continuous or intermittent therapy and a platelet count. The 0 percent line is “Asymptomatic.” Education only.
Where is the superscript 9?
On the 70 percent line, after 10. The cell reads platelet count less than 500 × 10, with 9 as a superscript, then /L. The 30 percent line instead prints 200,000-400,000 and 4,000-10,000.
Does the myelofibrosis presumption assign this code?
Section 3.320b(b)(5) says “Myelofibrosis.” It does not say essential thrombocythemia and does not assign DC 7718. The schedule title includes both names.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7718, the therapy it names, the platelet or white-blood-cell count, and whether Note (1) or Note (2) was used.
- 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 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 7719Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) (chronic myeloid leukemia or chronic granulocytic leukemia)
- DC 7720Iron deficiency anemia
- DC 7721Folic acid deficiency
- DC 7722Pernicious anemia and Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
- DC 7723Acquired hemolytic anemia
- DC 7724Solitary plasmacytoma
- DC 7725Myelodysplastic syndromes
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7718 • 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.