VA directs this diagnosis to the General Rating Formula for the Skin, using affected area and systemic-therapy duration paths. Systemic therapy is administered by a route other than the skin; topical therapy is administered through the skin.
Plain-language summaries explain the text; they do not decide whether any level applies.
60%
Official criteria
Characteristic lesions involving more than 40 percent of the entire body or more than 40 percent of exposed areas affected; or 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
Plain-language summary
This level uses either the greater-than-40-percent body/exposed-area path or constant/near-constant systemic therapy.
30%
Official criteria
Characteristic lesions involving 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or 20 to 40 percent of exposed areas affected; or systemic therapy including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, or other immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of 6 weeks or more, but not constantly, over the past 12-month period
Plain-language summary
This level uses either the 20-to-40-percent body/exposed-area path or at least six weeks of nonconstant systemic therapy.
10%
Official criteria
Characteristic lesions involving at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of the entire body affected; or at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of exposed areas affected; or intermittent systemic therapy including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, or other immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of less than 6 weeks over the past 12-month period
Plain-language summary
This level uses the listed 5-to-less-than-20-percent area paths or less than six weeks of systemic therapy.
0%
Official criteria
No more than topical therapy required over the past 12-month period and at least one of the following: characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the entire body affected; or less than 5 percent of exposed areas affected
Plain-language summary
The noncompensable level addresses limited involvement treated with no more than topical therapy.
Source record
38 CFR § 4.118—Schedule of ratings, skin
38 CFR § 4.118, DC 7813 · Effective Aug 13, 2018 · Reviewed Sep 11, 2026