Skin§ 4.118Updated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 7826Vasculitis, primary cutaneous:

Rated from 10% to 60% under § 4.118. Here is what the VA requires at each level.

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In short

Summary

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

The ladder

What each rating requires

The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.

  1. 60%

    Persistent documented vasculitis episodes refractory to continuous immunosuppressive therapy

  2. 30%

    All of the following

  3. 30%

    Recurrent documented vasculitic episodes occurring four or more times over the past 12-month period; and

  4. 30%

    Requiring intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control

  5. 10%

    At least one of the following

  6. 10%

    Recurrent documented vasculitic episodes occurring one to three times over the past 12-month period, and requiring intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control; or

  7. 10%

    Without recurrent documented vasculitic episodes but requiring continuous systemic medication for control

Primary Cutaneous Vasculitis (VA Diagnostic Code 7826)

Skin conditions rated under 38 CFR § 4.118

Understanding the Condition

Primary cutaneous vasculitis is a skin condition involving inflammation of the blood vessels in the skin. The VA evaluates it under Diagnostic Code 7826, which falls within the skin body system in § 4.118 of the rating schedule.

When rating this condition, the VA looks closely at how often documented vasculitic episodes occur and what kind of treatment is required to keep them under control.

Available Rating Levels

The VA assigns a disability rating based on the frequency of documented episodes and the type of therapy needed:

60%

  • Persistent documented vasculitis episodes that are refractory to (not controlled by) continuous immunosuppressive therapy.

30%

Requires all of the following:

  • Recurrent documented vasculitic episodes occurring four or more times over the past 12-month period; and
  • Requiring intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control.

10%

Requires at least one of the following:

  • Recurrent documented vasculitic episodes occurring one to three times over the past 12-month period, and requiring intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control; or
  • Without recurrent documented vasculitic episodes but requiring continuous systemic medication for control.

What the VA Looks For

To evaluate primary cutaneous vasculitis, the VA considers:

  • Documentation of vasculitic episodes — the number of episodes over the past 12-month period.
  • The type of treatment required — whether the condition needs intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy, continuous systemic medication, or continuous immunosuppressive therapy.
  • How the condition responds to treatment — including whether episodes persist despite continuous immunosuppressive therapy.

Alternative Rating Approach

Depending on the predominant disability, this condition may instead be rated as:

  • Disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800), or
  • Scars (DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805).

The applicable approach depends upon which disability predominates.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.118, diagnostic code 7826. The official version is the one that governs your rating.

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What next

How to claim this

Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Claim it by code

    File under diagnostic code 7826 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Skin codes may cover your secondary conditions.

Find out which rating your evidence supports.

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