Myelodysplastic syndromes

Medical records are the foundation of a rating for myelodysplastic syndromes because the criteria center on specific, countable treatments and hospitalizations within a 12-month period.

For a 100% rating, records showing hospital admission for a peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant, or oncology records documenting chemotherapy treatment, directly satisfy the criteria. The dates of admission, discharge, and treatment completion matter because they determine when the rating period begins and when the mandatory follow-up exam is due.

For a 60% rating, transfusion logs or infusion center records showing four or more blood or platelet transfusions in a year are key, as are hospital admission and discharge records documenting three or more infection-related hospitalizations in a year.

For a 30% rating, similar transfusion records showing one to three transfusions in a year are relevant, along with one or two infection-related hospitalization records, or treatment records showing a prescription for biologic therapy or an ESA covering 12 weeks or less within a 12-month period. Statements from you or people who know you about how fatigue, frequent medical appointments, or hospitalizations affect your ability to work and carry out daily activities can also help show the full impact of the condition.