VA Disability Ratings For Skin Conditions

Veterans on active duty can be exposed to toxic chemicals or environmental hazards that may result in skin conditions like eczema or dermatitis.

Also, a few veterans can have lasting effects of scars from burns and other injuries. The VA offers service-related disability benefits for veterans who experience skin conditions that are incurred or aggravated during their military service.

Developing Service Connection For Your Skin Conditions

To obtain VA disability benefits for skin conditions, veterans must provide a link (nexus) between their condition and the service.

If a veteran's skin condition happened due to an event or incident that occurred while you were on your duty, you could prove a direct service connection with the following evidence:

• Your current medical diagnosis of eczema, dermatitis, scarring, or other skin conditions;
• Evidence of an event in service that resulted in that condition; and
• Your doctor's opinion linking your current skin condition to your active duty incident.

Skin Conditions VA Disability Ratings For Veterans

The VA assigns ratings for skin conditions under section 4.118, VA Schedule of Ratings Disabilities, diagnostic codes 7800 to 7833.

These diagnostic codes contain several typical medical conditions, such as eczema, dermatitis, urticaria (hives), and psoriasis. Many skin conditions, except scars, are rated according to the general rating formula.

The VA can provide a disability rating of 60 percent, 30 percent, 10 percent, or 0 percent, depending on your body's condition due to your skin condition(s) or how much medical treatment you need. However, a few severe skin conditions like erythroderma can get a VA disability rating of 100 percent.

Eczema Or Dermatitis

VA disability ratings for eczema or dermatitis are assigned based on the frequency of medication veterans need to control its outbreak and the severity of their condition.

For instance, if you've dermatitis on your arm that's under control with certain occasional corticosteroids, the VA may likely provide a 10 percent VA disability rating.

However, if you've eczema on your complete upper body that needs near-consistent medical treatment, the VA must assign a 60 percent rating.

Chloracne

VA assigns ratings for chloracne based on how much of your face and neck is affected and whether it's a superficial or deep acne issue.

Deep acne involves more visible infection and inflammation, whereas superficial acne causes less inflammation.

The VA assigns only compensatory ratings for your deep acne condition. If you've superficial acne, you will only get a 0% rating regardless of how widespread it is. Even though veterans won't be entitled to disability benefits with a 0% rating, they still can receive VA healthcare and other VA benefits.

However, you may get a 30 percent, 20 percent, or 10 percent VA rating for deep acne. To obtain a maximum VA disability rating, your deep acne must have affected at least 40% of your face and neck.

Scars From Burns And Other Injuries

Veterans having scars on their face, head, or neck can receive a VA rating of 10%, 30%, 50%, or 80%, based on how disfiguring their scars are. If you have one scar on your nose, you may obtain a rating of 10%. However, a veteran with multiple scars that distort the nose, lips, cheek, and chin can receive a VA rating of 50%.

Furthermore, scars elsewhere on your body can receive a maximum rating of 40%. Also, the VA will consider the location, size, and how painful or unstable the scars are.

Filing Your VA Disability Claim For Skin Conditions

Veterans who suffer from skin conditions due to exposure to chemicals, injuries, or any other service-connected event are eligible for VA disability compensation.

You can apply for a veterans pension via the VA today. Also, you can apply at your regional VA office or online.