VA Diagnostic Code 7824Diseases of keratinization (including icthyoses, Darier's disease, and palmoplantar keratoderma).
Rated from 0% to 60% under § 4.118. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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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
Diseases of Keratinization — VA Disability Rating (Diagnostic Code 7824)
Skin conditions rated under 38 CFR § 4.118 using the General Rating Formula for the Skin
What This Condition Covers
Diagnostic Code 7824 addresses diseases of keratinization, a group of skin disorders that affect how the skin forms its protective outer layer. This category includes conditions such as:
- Ichthyoses
- Darier's disease
- Palmoplantar keratoderma
The VA evaluates these conditions under the General Rating Formula for the Skin, found in § 4.118.
Available Rating Levels
The VA assigns a disability rating for this condition at one of the following levels:
| Rating | What It Reflects |
|---|---|
| 60% | At least one of the qualifying criteria applies, including constant or near-constant systemic therapy over the past 12-month period — such as corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, psoralen with long-wave ultraviolet-A light (PUVA), or other immunosuppressive drugs. |
| 30% | At least one of the qualifying criteria applies at this level. |
| 10% | At least one of the qualifying criteria applies at this level. |
| 0% | No more than topical therapy required over the past 12-month period, and at least one of the qualifying criteria applies. |
What the VA Looks For
When rating diseases of keratinization, the VA focuses on the type and intensity of treatment the condition has required over the past 12-month period. Key factors include:
- Type of therapy used — for example, whether treatment was limited to topical therapy (associated with the 0% level) or required systemic therapy (associated with the 60% level).
- How consistently systemic therapy was needed — the 60% level reflects constant or near-constant systemic treatment over the past 12 months.
- Which systemic treatments were involved — the formula specifically references corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, and other immunosuppressive drugs, among others.
This information is drawn from the VA rating schedule under Diagnostic Code 7824. It describes the rating framework only and is not a prediction of any individual outcome.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.118, diagnostic code 7824. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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