Reference: 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806

Sources & Related Guides

What is the VA rating for Eczema (Dermatitis)?

Rated on body surface area (BSA) percentage involvement or required duration of systemic/topical immunosuppressive therapy.

Condition Overview & Clinical Scope

Rated on body surface area (BSA) percentage involvement or required duration of systemic/topical immunosuppressive therapy.

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Explore Eczema (Dermatitis) Criteria & Tools

Start AssessmentAnswer condition-scoped questions using documented findings from your records or exam notes.ContinuePercentage GuideSee the published percentage tiers and what changes between them.ContinueSecondary ConditionsSee conditions commonly connected to this one in VA claims.Continue

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Common Questions & FAQs

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What are you trying to understand about eczema (dermatitis)?

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Overview

About this condition

Rated on body surface area (BSA) percentage involvement or required duration of systemic/topical immunosuppressive therapy.

Regulatory authority: 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806

This guide provides regulatory reference criteria under 38 CFR Part 4. RatingScope does not provide medical diagnoses or predict adjudicative outcomes.

Percentage Guides

Understanding Your Percentage

Select a pathway to see what the published criteria ask about, what records may clarify it, and what should not be assumed.

60%

Highest listed pathway

More than 40% of entire body or more than 80% of exposed areas affected, or constant systemic therapy.

What separates the next level: Highest compensable evaluation defined under this diagnostic code.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806 establishes the 60% evaluation criteria.
What the published criteria say
Medical records must document the specific functional findings and clinical thresholds corresponding to the 60% level.
Examples
Veteran has clinical documentation demonstrating the 60% criteria under 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806.
Medical evidence
Skin Conditions DBQ (VA Form 21-0960F-2); Clinical treatment progress notes; Diagnostic testing reports
Functional impact examples
Documented impairment affecting daily physical or occupational performance.
Common misconceptions
A clinical diagnosis alone without documented severity does not guarantee a compensable rating.
Related topics
eczema; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 7806

30%

Next: 60%

20% to 40% of entire body or 40% to 80% of exposed areas affected, or 6+ weeks systemic therapy per year.

What separates the next level: Differs from the 60% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806 establishes the 30% evaluation criteria.
What the published criteria say
Medical records must document the specific functional findings and clinical thresholds corresponding to the 30% level.
Examples
Veteran has clinical documentation demonstrating the 30% criteria under 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806.
Medical evidence
Skin Conditions DBQ (VA Form 21-0960F-2); Clinical treatment progress notes; Diagnostic testing reports
Functional impact examples
Documented impairment affecting daily physical or occupational performance.
Common misconceptions
A clinical diagnosis alone without documented severity does not guarantee a compensable rating.
Related topics
eczema; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 7806

10%

Next: 30%

5% to 20% of entire body or 20% to 40% of exposed areas affected, or 6+ weeks topical therapy per year.

What separates the next level: Differs from the 30% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806 establishes the 10% evaluation criteria.
What the published criteria say
Medical records must document the specific functional findings and clinical thresholds corresponding to the 10% level.
Examples
Veteran has clinical documentation demonstrating the 10% criteria under 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806.
Medical evidence
Skin Conditions DBQ (VA Form 21-0960F-2); Clinical treatment progress notes; Diagnostic testing reports
Functional impact examples
Documented impairment affecting daily physical or occupational performance.
Common misconceptions
A clinical diagnosis alone without documented severity does not guarantee a compensable rating.
Related topics
eczema; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 7806

0%

Next: 10%

Less than 5% of body affected and controlled with occasional topical medication.

What separates the next level: Differs from the 10% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806 establishes the 0% evaluation criteria.
What the published criteria say
Medical records must document the specific functional findings and clinical thresholds corresponding to the 0% level.
Examples
Veteran has clinical documentation demonstrating the 0% criteria under 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806.
Medical evidence
Skin Conditions DBQ (VA Form 21-0960F-2); Clinical treatment progress notes; Diagnostic testing reports
Functional impact examples
Documented impairment affecting daily physical or occupational performance.
Common misconceptions
A clinical diagnosis alone without documented severity does not guarantee a compensable rating.
Related topics
eczema; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 7806

Learn

Understand the details behind the criteria

Use these short guides to connect published terms with the records and observations that may clarify them.

Body surface area involvement and systemic therapy requirements

Eczema (dermatitis) is evaluated on the percentage of total body surface area or exposed skin affected, as well as the need for systemic or topical corticosteroid therapy.

  • The rating schedule distinguishes between involvement of exposed areas (head, neck, and hands) versus overall body surface area.
  • Higher evaluation tiers require systemic therapy, such as oral corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or phototherapy, for specified durations over a 12-month period.
  • The General Rating Formula for the Skin considers both the percentage of affected skin and whether systemic therapy is required; topical therapy is treated differently from systemic therapy under the formula.

Records to review: Dermatology clinical notes documenting percentage of body surface area and exposed areas involved; Prescription records showing duration and courses of systemic medications; Treatment notes detailing response to topical versus systemic therapies.

Evidence

Evidence that may clarify the published criteria

Eczema (Dermatitis) DBQ

The DBQ organizes diagnosis and clinical findings for Eczema (Dermatitis).

A DBQ is useful context, but RatingScope does not require uploads and this hub does not accept records.

Diagnosis and treatment records

Treatment notes can show the current condition, course over time, therapy, and clinician observations.

A diagnosis alone does not identify which percentage pathway applies.

VA forms and DBQs (from VA.gov)

Downloadable DBQs & Supporting Claim Forms

The public DBQ shows the kinds of findings an examiner may record. A veteran may review it, or may share it with a private clinician, before a C&P exam. RatingScope does not tell any person what to submit.

Terminology

Plain-English terms

Common Questions

Questions veterans commonly ask

How is Eczema (Dermatitis) evaluated?

Rated on body surface area (BSA) percentage involvement or required duration of systemic/topical immunosuppressive therapy.

What separates the 60% rating from adjacent levels?

Highest compensable evaluation defined under this diagnostic code.

What separates the 30% rating from adjacent levels?

Differs from the 60% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

What separates the 10% rating from adjacent levels?

Differs from the 30% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

What separates the 0% rating from adjacent levels?

Differs from the 10% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Related Conditions

Continue learning through connected topics

Ready when you are

Eczema (Dermatitis) is evaluated under the Skin Conditions assessment

RatingScope compares Eczema (Dermatitis) records using the published criteria in the Skin Conditions assessment. Compare your documented records against the criteria.

Informational guidance only. RatingScope does not predict, decide, or guarantee VA outcomes.

Compare records in the Skin Conditions assessment

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Continue Understanding

External source/reference

38 CFR 4.97, DC 7806

Official regulation source for Eczema (Dermatitis). Use the official source for current rule text.

Open 38 CFR 4.97, DC 7806

Secondary conditions

Conditions commonly connected to Eczema (Dermatitis)

No commonly documented secondary connections are tracked for Eczema (Dermatitis) yet.

Educational Guides & Evidence Resources

In-depth analysis of DBQ forms, medical evidence thresholds, and rating schedules for Eczema (Dermatitis).

Psoriasis & Eczema: How VA Rates Chronic Dermatitis Under 38 CFR 4.118

Learn how the VA evaluates psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and eczema under Diagnostic Codes 7806 and 7816, and how biologic medications trigger a 60% rating.

VA General Rating Formula for the Skin: 38 CFR 4.118 Guide

Learn how the VA evaluates dermatological disorders using the General Rating Formula for the Skin based on surface area or systemic immunosuppressive medication.

Skin Conditions & Scars C&P Exam: What VA Looks For

Understand how VA examiners evaluate scars, disfigurement, and chronic skin diseases using official Disability Benefits Questionnaires.

How VA Rates Scars: DC 7800-7805 Disfigurement, Area, and Pain Criteria

Learn how the VA evaluates scars under 38 CFR 4.118 based on facial disfigurement, surface area, tissue loss, and painful or unstable characteristics.

Urticaria & Chronic Hives: How VA Rates Skin Allergies Under DC 7825

Understand how the VA rates chronic urticaria and hives under 38 CFR 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7825, including daily attacks, systemic medications, and toxic exposure links.

Keep going

Related Tools

Compare a percentage level and combined-rating math, or review evidence context.

See all tools

VA Math & Combined Ratings

Understand the whole-person method, final rounding, and bilateral limits, then calculate how percentages combine.

Open VA Math guide

Evidence Center

Understand common evidence categories and what they can clarify without treating them as a checklist.

Open Evidence Center