Being on blood thinners is not a disability the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rates for compensation. The VA grants disability compensation based on the functional impairment caused by a service-connected condition, not the treatment or medication used to manage it. A veteran is compensated for the underlying medical condition that necessitates the use of anticoagulation medication, or for any separate, ratable conditions that arise as a side effect of the treatment. Establishing a direct link between military service and the condition requiring the blood thinners is required.
How the VA Rates Conditions, Not Medications
The VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) serves as the basis for all disability compensation decisions. This schedule evaluates the severity of a medical condition based on its symptoms and objective medical findings. The focus is on the resulting reduction in earning capacity and the functional limitations a disease imposes on a veteran’s daily life and work.
Medications, such as anticoagulants like Warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), are considered a form of treatment, not a ratable disability in themselves. The mere fact of taking a blood thinner does not qualify for a rating percentage. Compensation is tied to the underlying disease entity—like an irregular heart rhythm or a history of blood clots—that requires the medication to prevent further complications.
Rating the Underlying Conditions Requiring Blood Thinners
The conditions that necessitate blood thinners are typically cardiovascular or hematological disorders that carry a high risk of clot formation. Atrial fibrillation (A-fib), a common irregular heart rhythm, often requires anticoagulation to prevent stroke. The VA rates A-fib under Diagnostic Code 7010, with ratings of 10% or 30%, depending on the frequency of documented episodes and the need for medical intervention.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and its residual effects are frequently rated under Diagnostic Code 7121, known as post-phlebitic syndrome. The rating is based on symptoms such as persistent swelling (edema), skin changes (stasis pigmentation), and the presence of ulceration. Ratings range from 0% up to 100% for massive edema. A heart valve replacement, particularly a mechanical valve, also requires lifelong anticoagulation. This condition is rated based on the specific heart condition it was meant to correct, often using a formula based on the heart’s functional capacity, measured in metabolic equivalents (METs). The underlying disease’s severity dictates the final rating percentage.
Compensation for Residuals and Side Effects of Anticoagulation
While the medication itself is not ratable, the side effects and complications of anticoagulation therapy can be rated as secondary service-connected conditions. Blood thinners increase the risk of bleeding, and chronic internal bleeding can lead to conditions like chronic anemia. If anemia is diagnosed and medically linked to the anticoagulant use for a service-connected condition, it can be rated separately.
Serious complications, such as a major gastrointestinal hemorrhage or organ damage resulting from a severe bleeding episode, can also be service-connected on a secondary basis. The resulting medical condition, like a permanent gastrointestinal disorder, would be evaluated under its own diagnostic code. Functional limitations imposed by required frequent monitoring, such as regular International Normalized Ratio (INR) blood tests, or significant dietary restrictions, may be considered when evaluating the overall impairment. The severity of these secondary conditions determines the rating.
Establishing Service Connection for the Underlying Condition
Receiving compensation for any condition requires establishing service connection. This process demands proof of three distinct elements. The first is a current diagnosis of the medical condition, such as atrial fibrillation or DVT, confirmed by medical evidence.
The second element is evidence of an event, injury, or illness that occurred during military service. The third and often most complex element is the medical nexus, which links the current diagnosis to the in-service event. This medical opinion must state that the current condition is “at least as likely as not” caused by or aggravated by the veteran’s military service. The VA often arranges a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination to evaluate this connection.