VA Diagnostic Code 7820Infections of the skin not listed elsewhere (including bacterial, fungal, viral, treponemal, and parasitic diseases).
Rated from 0% to 60% under § 4.118. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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Summary
Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin
What each rating requires
The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.
- 60%
At least one of the following
- 60%
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
- 30%
At least one of the following
- 10%
At least one of the following
- 0%
No more than topical therapy required over the past 12-month period and at least one of the following
General rating formula
General Rating Formula For The Skin
Skin Infections (VA Diagnostic Code 7820)
Understanding Skin Infections and How the VA Rates Them
Diagnostic Code 7820 covers infections of the skin not listed elsewhere, including bacterial, fungal, viral, treponemal, and parasitic diseases. These conditions fall under the Skin body system and are addressed in 38 CFR § 4.118.
What This Condition Involves
Skin infections in this category are caused by a range of organisms — bacteria, fungi, viruses, treponemes, and parasites — that are not specifically listed under another diagnostic code. Because these infections vary widely, the VA evaluates them using a standardized approach rather than a single fixed description.
How the VA Evaluates This Condition
Skin infections under Diagnostic Code 7820 are rated under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. This means the VA looks at the overall impact of the condition and the type of treatment required, rather than focusing only on the specific organism involved.
Available Rating Levels
The following rating levels are recognized for this condition:
| Rating | What the VA Looks For |
|---|---|
| 60% | At least one of the applicable criteria — including constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, psoralen with long-wave ultraviolet-A light (PUVA), or other immunosuppressive drugs required over the past 12-month period. |
| 30% | At least one of the applicable criteria under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. |
| 10% | At least one of the applicable criteria under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. |
| 0% | No more than topical therapy required over the past 12-month period, and at least one of the applicable criteria. |
Key Factors the VA Considers
- The type of treatment required over the past 12-month period — for example, whether systemic therapy (like corticosteroids, biologics, or immunosuppressive drugs) is needed, or whether the condition is managed with topical therapy alone.
- How frequently treatment is needed, such as constant or near-constant systemic therapy.
Because this condition is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for the Skin, the level of treatment and the extent of the condition guide where a claim falls on the rating scale.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.118, diagnostic code 7820. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.
Find your level in the stack
Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.
Name the gap
Look at the rung above yours and write down exactly what it asks for that your file does not show yet — a diagnosis, a measurement, a prescribed brace, a doctor’s opinion linking it to service.
Claim it by code
File under diagnostic code 7820 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Skin codes may cover your secondary conditions.
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