Bone marrow failure condition causing pancytopenia (low blood counts)
Medical records that document transfusion history are central to this rating. Records should show the type of transfusion — platelets or red cells — and the dates, so VA can calculate the average frequency over a 12-month period. For the 100% level, hospital admission records and discharge summaries confirming a peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant are needed.
Records showing recurring infections, including the dates of each episode and how they were treated, help establish whether infections meet the once-per-year, once-every-three-months, or once-every-six-weeks thresholds. For the 60% level, pharmacy records, prescription histories, or treatment notes confirming continuous use of an immunosuppressive agent or an FDA-approved platelet stimulating factor support that criteria. Statements from you or your treating providers describing how often you receive treatment, how frequently you become ill, and how these episodes affect your daily life and ability to work can also help VA understand the full picture when medical records alone do not capture the pattern clearly.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
