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Splenectomy (Surgical Spleen Removal) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7706 of 38 CFR § 4.117, DC 7706 across 2 severity tiers (20% / 30%). 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.
Surgical removal of the spleen, typically performed after trauma (e.g., motor vehicle accidents, combat injury, sports injury), splenic rupture, or for certain hematologic conditions (ITP, hereditary spherocytosis, lymphoma staging). Post-splenectomy patients face lifetime increased risk of overwhelming sepsis from encapsulated bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis) — requires lifetime prophylactic vaccinations + often daily antibiotic prophylaxis.
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.117 (Hemic and lymphatic systems). Source verified 2026-05-17 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.