VA Disability Rating for Leukemia
Rated 100% during active disease. Agent Orange + PACT presumptive.
Leukemia (DC 7703) is rated 100% during active disease and for as long as treatment is ongoing, then rerated by residuals. Multiple presumptive pathways: AL amyloidosis and chronic B-cell leukemias (CLL, hairy cell) under Agent Orange (§ 3.309(e)), all leukemias under the radiation-exposed veterans framework (§ 3.309(d)), AND PACT Act for burn-pit exposure.
Presumptive framework applies
Multiple presumptive pathways: (a) Agent Orange (§ 3.309(e)) for hairy cell leukemia + other chronic B-cell leukemias including CLL; (b) Radiation-Exposed Veterans (§ 3.309(d)) for all forms of leukemia except CLL; (c) PACT Act for post-9/11 burn-pit / airborne-hazard exposure.
Check my presumptive eligibility →Rating tiers + 2026 monthly compensation
| Rating | Monthly (2026, single vet) | Criteria (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | $3,938.58 | Active disease, OR during treatment phase. |
| 0% | — | After treatment completion + stabilization: rerated by residuals (anemia, splenectomy, infection complications, cardiomyopathy from chemo). Each residual is rated under its own DC. |
Dollar amounts reflect the 2.5% COLA effective 2025-12-01 for single veterans with no dependents. Add spouse + children for 30%+ ratings via the estimator.
What this means in dollars
- →At 100%: $3,938.58/mo · $47,263/year, tax-free
How to get rated for leukemia
- Pathology / bone marrow biopsy + treatment records.
- AO-qualifying service: file under § 3.309(e) for hairy cell leukemia and other chronic B-cell leukemias.
- Radiation-exposed: file under § 3.309(d) — all leukemias except CLL covered.
- PACT-qualifying: file under burn-pit framework.
Common secondary conditions
- +Anemia
- +Infection complications
- +Cardiomyopathy (chemo-related)
- +Secondary malignancy (treatment-related)
File these separately. VA rates each service-connected condition independently and combines them via § 4.25.
Nexus tips
- Choose the presumption that fits your service — VA will match the most generous applicable framework.
- CLL is uniquely positioned: covered under AO but excluded from the radiation framework — choose carefully.
Frequently asked
I was a Cold War radar tech and developed CLL. Which presumption applies?
If you have AO-qualifying service, file under § 3.309(e) (CLL is on the AO list). The radiation-exposed framework (§ 3.309(d)) explicitly excludes CLL. If neither applies, direct service-connection with nexus is the path.
Ready to act on this?
Get a full rating estimate across your conditions, or draft the nexus letter your doctor needs to sign.
Related conditions
This page summarizes public rating criteria from 38 CFR Part 4. It is not legal or medical advice. Actual VA ratings depend on C&P exam findings, records review, and rater discretion.