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Infections of the skin not listed elsewhere (including bacterial, fungal, viral, treponemal, and parasitic diseases)
Diagnostic code 7820 · Skin · 38 CFR 4.118
Rating criteria: the exact regulation text
Quoted from 38 CFR 4.118. The "Rating" column is the percentage VA assigns for that level.
| Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| 7820 Infections of the skin not listed elsewhere (including bacterial, fungal, viral, treponemal, and parasitic diseases). | |
| Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin |
General Rating Formula For The Skin For DCs 7806, 7809, 7813-7816, 7820-7822, and 7824
The formula's heading lists diagnostic code 7820.
| Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| General Rating Formula For The Skin For DCs 7806, 7809, 7813-7816, 7820-7822, and 7824: | |
| At least one of the following | 60 |
| Characteristic lesions involving more than 40 percent of the entire body or more than 40 percent of exposed areas affected; or | |
| Constant or near-constant systemic therapy including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, psoralen with long-wave ultraviolet-A light (PUVA), or other immunosuppressive drugs required over the past 12-month period | 60 |
| At least one of the following | 30 |
| Characteristic lesions involving 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or 20 to 40 percent of exposed areas affected; or Systemic therapy including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, or other immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of 6 weeks or more, but not constantly, over the past 12-month period | |
| At least one of the following | 10 |
| Characteristic lesions involving at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of the entire body affected; or | |
| At least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of exposed areas affected; or | |
| Intermittent systemic therapy including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, or other immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of less than 6 weeks over the past 12-month period | |
| No more than topical therapy required over the past 12-month period and at least one of the following | 0 |
| Characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the entire body affected; or | |
| Characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of exposed areas affected | |
| Or rate as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800) or scars (DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805), depending upon the predominant disability. This rating instruction does not apply to DC 7824 |
Notes for the whole table
(a) For the purposes of this section, systemic therapy is treatment that is administered through any route (orally, injection, suppository, intranasally) other than the skin, and topical therapy is treatment that is administered through the skin.
(b) Two or more skin conditions may be combined in accordance with § 4.25 only if separate areas of skin are involved. If two or more skin conditions involve the same area of skin, then only the highest evaluation shall be used.
Related codes in the regulation
- 7806 Dermatitis or eczemaSame formula
- 7809 Discoid lupus erythematosusSame formula
- 7813 Dermatophytosis (ringworm: Of body, tinea corporis; of head, tinea capitis; of feet, tinea pedis; of beard area, tinea barbae; of nails, tinea unguium (onychomycosis); of inguinal area (jock itch), tinea cruris; tinea versicolor)Same formula
- 7815 Bullous disorders (including pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceous, bullous pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, benign chronic familial pemphigus (Hailey-Hailey), and porphyria cutanea tarda)Same formula
- 7816 PsoriasisSame formula
- 7821 Cutaneous manifestations of collagen-vascular diseases not listed elsewhere (including scleroderma, calcinosis cutis, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and dermatomyositis)Same formula
- 7822 Papulosquamous disorders not listed elsewhere (including lichen planus, large or small plaque parapsoriasis, pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA), lymphomatoid papulosus, mycosis fungoides, and pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP))Same formula
- 7824 Diseases of keratinization (including icthyoses, Darier's disease, and palmoplantar keratoderma)Same formula
The VA exam form for this condition
VA examiners record their findings on a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ). Reading it shows you what the exam will measure and ask.
Rules that apply to this body system
Where this comes from
38 CFR 4.118, VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities, from the official eCFR.
Regulation text current as of October 16, 2026.
Change history for this code (38 CFR Part 4, Appendix A): Added August 30, 2002; criterion August 13, 2018.
Read it on eCFR.govInformation, not advice
This page shows the text of VA's rating regulation for information. It is not a rating estimate, and it is not legal or medical advice. VA decides every rating on the evidence in your file.
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