VA Diagnostic Code 7821Cutaneous manifestations of collagen-vascular diseases not listed elsewhere (including scleroderma, calcinosis cutis, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and dermatomyositis).
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
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- 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
VA Disability Rating: Cutaneous Manifestations of Collagen-Vascular Diseases (Diagnostic Code 7821)
Understanding This Condition
Diagnostic Code 7821 covers cutaneous (skin) manifestations of collagen-vascular diseases that are not listed elsewhere in the rating schedule. This includes conditions such as:
- Scleroderma
- Calcinosis cutis
- Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
- Dermatomyositis
These are conditions that affect the skin as part of a broader collagen-vascular disease process. This condition is rated under the Skin body system and appears in § 4.118 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
How the VA Rates This Condition
Because this condition falls under the General Rating Formula for the Skin, it is evaluated according to that formula. The VA assigns a percentage rating based on the criteria you meet.
Available Rating Levels
| Rating | What It Reflects |
|---|---|
| 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% | Assigned when at least one of the criteria at this level is met under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. |
| 10% | Assigned when at least one of the criteria at this level is met 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 criteria at this level is met. |
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating this condition, the VA considers the type and frequency of treatment required over the past 12-month period. Key factors include:
- Whether constant or near-constant systemic therapy was required (such as corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, or other immunosuppressive drugs) — which corresponds to the highest rating level.
- Whether treatment was limited to topical therapy only — which corresponds to the lowest (0%) rating level.
Because this condition is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for the Skin, the specific criteria for each rating level are drawn from that formula.
This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule for Diagnostic Code 7821 under § 4.118. It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating outcome.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.118, diagnostic code 7821. 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 7821 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Skin codes may cover your secondary conditions.
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