EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Sickle Cell Disease
DC 7714 | 38 CFR § 4.117, DC 7714 |
Sickle Cell Disease is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7714 of 38 CFR § 4.117, DC 7714 across 4 severity tiers (10% / 30% / 60% / 100%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Inherited blood disorder where red blood cells become sickle-shaped, causing pain crises, anemia, organ damage, and stroke risk. Sickle cell crises are episodes of severe pain requiring hospitalization.
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
10%
DC 7714 verbatim — Asymptomatic, established case in remission with identifiable organ damage.
30%
DC 7714 verbatim — Not having crises, but with symptomatic disease (joint pain, etc.) and identifiable organ impairment.
60%
DC 7714 verbatim — Painful crises, with or without identifiable organ involvement, occurring less than 3 times in the last 12 months.
100%
DC 7714 verbatim — Repeated painful crises occurring 3 or more times in the past 12 months; or, with cerebrovascular accident, end-organ damage, or requiring hospitalization 3 or more times.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026