38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.118
Dermatophytosis (ringworm: Of body, tinea corporis; of head, tinea capitis; of feet, tinea pedis; of beard area, tinea barbae; of nails, tinea unguium (onychomycosis); of inguinal area (jock itch), tinea cruris; tinea versicolor) — VA Diagnostic Code 7813
Skin
Diagnostic code
7813
38 CFR § 4.118 lists Diagnostic Code 7813 in the skin schedule. The title names dermatophytosis, including tinea of the body, head, feet, beard, nails, and groin, and tinea versicolor. The code says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. That formula prints 60, 30, 10, and 0 percent.
Reviewed 2026-09-28. Diffed against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-09-24 on 2026-09-28. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-09-24; latest amended on 2026-08-27.
The rating criteria at each level
7813 Dermatophytosis (ringworm: Of body, tinea corporis; of head, tinea capitis; of feet, tinea pedis; of beard area, tinea barbae; of nails, tinea unguium (onychomycosis); of inguinal area (jock itch), tinea cruris; tinea versicolor)
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin |
General Rating Formula For The Skin For DCs 7806, 7809, 7813-7816, 7820-7822, and 7824
Rating %: 60
Criteria (verbatim). At least one of the following
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Characteristic lesions involving more than 40 percent of the entire body or more than 40 percent of exposed areas affected; or
Rating %: 60
Criteria (verbatim). 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
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). At least one of the following
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). 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
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). At least one of the following
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Characteristic lesions involving at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of the entire body affected; or
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). At least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of exposed areas affected; or
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). 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
Rating %: 0
Criteria (verbatim). No more than topical therapy required over the past 12-month period and at least one of the following
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the entire body affected; or
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of exposed areas affected
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). 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. This rating instruction does not apply to DC 7824
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 60 | At least one of the following |
| — | Characteristic lesions involving more than 40 percent of the entire body or more than 40 percent of exposed areas affected; or |
| 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 |
| — | 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 |
| 10 | At least one of the following |
| — | 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 |
| 0 | 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 |
| — | Characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of exposed areas affected |
| — | 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. This rating instruction does not apply to DC 7824 |
(a) For the purposes of this section, systemic therapy is treatment that is administered through any route (orally, injection, suppository, intranasally) other than the skin, and topical therapy is treatment that is administered through the skin.
(b) Two or more skin conditions may be combined in accordance with § 4.25 only if separate areas of skin are involved. If two or more skin conditions involve the same area of skin, then only the highest evaluation shall be used.
eCFR prints “At least one of the following” on its own row, with the percentage in the rating column, and prints the options on the following rows. A blank rating cell on this page marks an option row. It is not an extra level. On the 60 percent block, the rating column also shows 60 on the systemic-therapy row, which is how the eCFR table prints that block.
The formula’s drug classes are introduced by “including, but not limited to.” This page does not say whether a named antifungal meets a level. Whether a particular drug meets the words is the rater’s application of § 4.118(a) to the record.
The latest amendments listed on § 4.118 are the skin final rule, 83 FR 32592 (July 13, 2018), and a correction, 83 FR 38663 (August 7, 2018), both effective August 13, 2018. The correction removed an unintended “more than” from the 30 percent criteria. The table above is the current eCFR text, not the uncorrected July 13 sentence.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.118 (Schedule of ratings—skin), Diagnostic Code 7813 and the General Rating Formula for the Skin, eCFR, up to date as of 2026-09-24.
What the words mean in your records
How much skin
One side of each level is the percent of the entire body, or the percent of exposed areas, affected by characteristic lesions. More than 40 percent is in the 60 percent block. Twenty to 40 percent is in the 30 percent block. At least 5 percent but less than 20 percent is in the 10 percent block. Less than 5 percent, with no more than topical therapy, is the 0 percent block. The schedule does not define “characteristic lesions” or “exposed areas” in a sentence under DC 7813. The Skin Diseases DBQ describes exposed area as face, neck, and hands.
What treatment, and for how long, in the past 12 months
The other side of the formula is therapy over the past 12-month period. Constant or near-constant systemic therapy is in the 60 percent block. Systemic therapy for a total duration of 6 weeks or more, but not constantly, is in the 30 percent block. Intermittent systemic therapy for a total duration of less than 6 weeks is in the 10 percent block. “No more than topical therapy” is in the 0 percent block, together with less than 5 percent involvement. 38 CFR § 4.118(a) says systemic therapy is treatment administered through any route (orally, injection, suppository, intranasally) other than the skin, and topical therapy is treatment administered through the skin.
Topical is not systemic
A treatment “administered through the skin” is topical under § 4.118(a). A cream, ointment, or other skin-applied treatment is that definition. An oral, injected, suppository, or intranasal treatment is systemic under the same sentence, because it is a route other than the skin. The formula’s examples, including corticosteroids, retinoids, biologics, phototherapy, photochemotherapy, and PUVA, are examples. They are not a closed list, and this page does not add drugs to it.
Two skin conditions
Section 4.118(b) says two or more skin conditions may be combined in accordance with § 4.25 only if separate areas of skin are involved. If two or more skin conditions involve the same area of skin, only the highest evaluation shall be used. That is the rule for a fungal rash and another skin condition. It is not a rule that they are always rated separately.
Evidence that speaks to each level
60 — more than 40 percent, or constant systemic therapy
What the rater needs to see. Characteristic lesions involving more than 40 percent of the entire body or of exposed areas, or constant or near-constant systemic therapy over the past 12-month period.
Where that usually lives. Dermatology or primary-care notes that estimate the percent of body or exposed area, and pharmacy or treatment records that show the route and that the systemic therapy was constant or near-constant over those 12 months.
30 — 20 to 40 percent, or systemic therapy for 6 weeks or more
What the rater needs to see. Lesions involving 20 to 40 percent of the body or of exposed areas, or systemic therapy required for a total of 6 weeks or more, but not constantly, over the past 12 months.
Where that usually lives. The same area estimate, and records of start and stop dates that add up to that duration. The Skin Diseases DBQ asks for total duration in the past 12 months: less than 6 weeks, 6 weeks or more but not constant, or constant or near-constant.
10 — at least 5 and less than 20 percent, or systemic therapy under 6 weeks
What the rater needs to see. Lesions involving at least 5 percent but less than 20 percent of the body, or of exposed areas, or intermittent systemic therapy for a total of less than 6 weeks over the past 12 months.
Where that usually lives. The area estimate and the dated medication record showing route and a total duration under 6 weeks.
0 — topical therapy and less than 5 percent
What the rater needs to see. No more than topical therapy over the past 12 months, and characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the entire body or of exposed areas.
Where that usually lives. Notes and pharmacy records showing skin-applied treatment only, plus the area estimate. The DBQ lists topical as a route.
Lay evidence can describe how often the rash returns and how far it spreads. The percent of body or exposed area, and whether treatment was systemic or topical, are clinical findings. Our reading: a flare diary helps with timing. It is not the schedule’s measurement of percent of body. The category page is skin conditions.
The exam form
VA’s public DBQ list, checked September 28, 2026, names “Skin Diseases” under Dermatological, and a separate “Scars” form in the same section. Both are public. Neither is on the list of DBQs withheld from public use. This site does not yet have a skin DBQ guide. The index is DBQ guides.
The Skin Diseases PDF, marked updated on 2024-07-15 and read September 28, 2026, uses Section III for medication in the past 12 months, including route (oral, injection, intranasal, suppository, topical, or other) and total duration. Section IV asks for approximate total body area and approximate total exposed body area, and it lists dermatophytosis as its own row, with the same bands the formula uses. Section VII asks about scarring or disfigurement of the head, face, or neck and points to the Scars DBQ. The diagnosis list on the form repeats the DC 7813 title, including tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and onychomycosis. This page does not publish a form number.
Related codes and how they interact
Codes that use the same formula, or that the formula points to
DC 7806 is “Dermatitis or eczema,” and says “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin.” The public page is the eczema guide. Section 4.118(b) is the same-area rule if eczema and dermatophytosis are both in the record.
DC 7816 is “Psoriasis,” and says “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin.” Its note says: “Rate complications such as psoriatic arthritis and other clinical manifestations (e.g., oral mucosa, nails) separately under the appropriate diagnostic code.” That note is printed under DC 7816. It is not printed under DC 7813.
DC 7820 is “Infections of the skin not listed elsewhere (including bacterial, fungal, viral, treponemal, and parasitic diseases),” and says to evaluate under the same formula. DC 7822 is “Papulosquamous disorders not listed elsewhere,” and says the same.
The last row of the formula says: “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. This rating instruction does not apply to DC 7824.” DC 7813 is not DC 7824, so the instruction is in the formula that rates this code. DC 7800 is burn scars or other disfigurement of the head, face, or neck. DC 7801 is scars not of the head, face, or neck that are associated with underlying soft tissue damage. DC 7802 is scars not of the head, face, or neck that are not associated with underlying soft tissue damage. DC 7804 is “Scar(s), unstable or painful,” at 30 percent for five or more, 20 percent for three or four, and 10 percent for one or two. Note (1): “An unstable scar is one where, for any reason, there is frequent loss of covering of skin over the scar.” Note (3): scars evaluated under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7805 may also receive an evaluation under DC 7804, when applicable. DC 7805 says to evaluate any disabling effect not considered under diagnostic codes 7800-04 under an appropriate diagnostic code. See scar ratings.
38 CFR § 4.14 (Avoidance of pyramiding) says the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided. The formula’s “predominant disability” instruction and § 4.118(b) are the skin-specific sentences. This page does not add a combining rule beyond them.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
No secondary condition and no presumptive disease are named in DC 7813. 38 CFR § 3.309 (Disease subject to presumptive service connection) does not name dermatophytosis, tinea, ringworm, or onychomycosis. Any secondary claim is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. This page does not describe a deployment or location presumption for tinea.
Short answers
How does VA rate tinea under DC 7813?
VA lists dermatophytosis under Diagnostic Code 7813 in 38 CFR § 4.118, including tinea pedis, tinea cruris (jock itch), and tinea unguium (onychomycosis). The code says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. The formula’s levels are 0, 10, 30, and 60 percent, based on the percent of the entire body or of exposed areas affected, or on how long systemic therapy was required over the past 12 months. Section 4.118(a) defines systemic therapy as any route other than the skin. Education only.
Do prescription antifungal creams count as systemic therapy?
Section 4.118(a) defines topical therapy as treatment “administered through the skin” and systemic therapy as treatment administered through any other route, including orally, by injection, by suppository, or intranasally. A cream applied to the skin is topical under that sentence. The 0 percent level is no more than topical therapy over the past 12 months, with characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the body or of exposed areas. This page does not rule on a brand or a drug class beyond that definition. Education only.
FAQ
What conditions does DC 7813 cover?
The schedule title is “Dermatophytosis (ringworm: Of body, tinea corporis; of head, tinea capitis; of feet, tinea pedis; of beard area, tinea barbae; of nails, tinea unguium (onychomycosis); of inguinal area (jock itch), tinea cruris; tinea versicolor).” Those are the names printed under Diagnostic Code 7813 in 38 CFR § 4.118. The next line says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin.
How is dermatophytosis rated?
DC 7813 says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. The levels are 60, 30, 10, and 0 percent. Each level is at least one listed finding: a percent of the entire body or of exposed areas, or systemic therapy of a stated duration over the past 12 months. The 0 percent level is no more than topical therapy, with less than 5 percent of the body or of exposed areas. The formula also says to rate as disfigurement or scars, depending on the predominant disability.
Do prescription creams count as systemic therapy?
No, if the treatment is administered through the skin. Section 4.118(a) defines topical therapy as treatment administered through the skin, and systemic therapy as treatment administered through any route other than the skin, including orally, by injection, by suppository, or intranasally. A skin-applied cream is the topical definition. Topical-only treatment with less than 5 percent involvement is the 0 percent level. This page does not decide a named antifungal beyond that definition.
If I have tinea on my feet and eczema on my arms, are they rated separately?
Section 4.118(b) says two or more skin conditions may be combined in accordance with § 4.25 only if separate areas of skin are involved. If they involve the same area of skin, only the highest evaluation shall be used. Feet and arms are different areas when the record shows that. The same patch of skin is not two evaluations. DC 7806, dermatitis or eczema, uses the same skin formula.
What is the maximum under DC 7813?
The highest percentage printed in the General Rating Formula for the Skin is 60 percent. That is the formula DC 7813 says to use. The formula does not print 100 percent. The closing instruction says to rate as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck under DC 7800, or as scars under DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805, depending upon the predominant disability. Those codes have their own lines. VA decides which instruction fits the record.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7813 and set the past-12-month treatment route and the area estimate next to the formula rows above.
- Organize pharmacy dates and the area findings before an exam. C&P prep (Founding Pass) is the worksheet. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
- Other skin codes are on the skin diagnostic-code index. The catalog home is the diagnostic code index. The category page is skin conditions.
Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.
Other codes in this body system
Nearby catalog entries in Skin, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Skin codes
- DC 7802Burn scar(s) or scar(s) due to other causes, not of the head, face, or neck that are not associated with underlying soft tissue damage
- DC 7804Scar(s), unstable or painful
- DC 7805Scars, other; and other effects of scars evaluated under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7804
- DC 7806Dermatitis or eczema
- DC 7807Leishmaniasis, American (New World)
- DC 7808Leishmaniasis, Old World
- DC 7809Discoid lupus erythematosus
- DC 7811Tuberculosis luposa (lupus vulgaris)
- DC 7815Bullous disorders
- DC 7816Psoriasis
- DC 7817Erythroderma
- DC 7818Malignant skin neoplasms
- DC 7819Benign skin neoplasms
- DC 7820Infections of the skin
- DC 7821Cutaneous manifestations of collagen-vascular diseases not listed elsewhere
- DC 7822Papulosquamous disorders not listed elsewhere
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7813 • va.gov
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.