38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.118
Psoriasis — VA Diagnostic Code 7816
Skin
Diagnostic code
7816
38 CFR § 4.118 lists Diagnostic Code 7816 as “Psoriasis.” The next row says “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin.” The note says to rate complications such as psoriatic arthritis and other clinical manifestations (e.g., oral mucosa, nails) separately under the appropriate diagnostic code. That note does not end with a period. Appendix B indexes “Psoriasis.”
Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.118 source note prints 67 FR 49596, July 31, 2002; 67 FR 58448, 58449, Sept. 16, 2002; 73 FR 54710, Oct. 23, 2008; 77 FR 2910, Jan. 20, 2012; 83 FR 32597, July 13, 2018; 83 FR 38663, Aug. 7, 2018. The § 4.25 source note prints 41 FR 11293, Mar. 18, 1976, as amended at 54 FR 27161, June 28, 1989; 54 FR 36029, Aug. 31, 1989; 83 FR 17756, Apr. 24, 2018.
The rating criteria at each level
7816 Psoriasis
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 |
Note: Rate complications such as psoriatic arthritis and other clinical manifestations (e.g., oral mucosa, nails) separately under the appropriate diagnostic code
(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.
The formula header names DCs 7806, 7809, 7813-7816, 7820-7822, and 7824. DC 7816 is inside 7813-7816. The last formula line says the disfigurement-or-scars instruction does not apply to DC 7824. DC 7816 is not DC 7824, so that instruction remains in the formula that rates psoriasis. DC 7824 is diseases of keratinization. 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just.
The DC 7816 note names psoriatic arthritis and other clinical manifestations, with the examples “oral mucosa, nails.” It is printed under DC 7816. DC 7813 is dermatophytosis. Its public page is the tinea guide. That note is not printed under DC 7813. DC 7815 is bullous disorders, also inside 7813-7816. DC 7817 is erythroderma. It prints its own lines and is not in the formula header. DC 7806 is dermatitis or eczema. The public page is the eczema guide.
38 CFR § 4.118(a) defines systemic therapy and topical therapy. § 4.118(b) is the same-area rule, and it cites § 4.25. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided, and that the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7816 and the General Rating Formula for the Skin, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
The name has no percentage
“7816 Psoriasis.” is followed by “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin.” The 60, 30, 10, and 0 lines belong to that formula.
The note does not end with a period
The note stops at “appropriate diagnostic code.” It uses “e.g.,” before “oral mucosa, nails.” Psoriatic arthritis is the complication the note names first.
Inside 7813-7816
The formula header includes 7813-7816. The sentence that withholds the scar instruction applies to DC 7824. It does not withhold that instruction from DC 7816.
Evidence that speaks to each level
The formula level
What the rater needs to see. Characteristic lesions by percent of the entire body or of exposed areas, or the systemic or topical therapy the formula describes over the past 12-month period.
Where that usually lives. The skin examination and the treatment record for those 12 months.
The DC 7816 note
What the rater needs to see. Complications such as psoriatic arthritis, and other clinical manifestations such as oral mucosa or nails, when they are rated separately under the appropriate diagnostic code.
Where that usually lives. The examination of those complications. The note does not print a percentage of its own.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Skin Diseases” and “Scars” under Dermatological. The files are Skin Diseases and Scars.
The exam form
DC 7816 uses the general skin formula and adds the complications note. This page does not say the form replaces that text.
Related codes and how they interact
The formula is shared. The note is not.
DC 7806, DC 7813, and DC 7815 are among the codes in the formula header. The psoriatic-arthritis note is printed under DC 7816. Erythroderma, DC 7817, has its own scale.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “psoriasis.” Undiagnosed skin conditions, where a program lists them, are a family name without a diagnostic code. This page does not assign DC 7816 to that name.
A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.
Short answers
What is the VA rating for psoriasis?
Under 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7816 uses the General Rating Formula for the Skin: 60, 30, 10, and 0. A note rates complications such as psoriatic arthritis, and other clinical manifestations such as oral mucosa and nails, separately under the appropriate diagnostic code. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
What does systemic therapy mean in this section?
Section 4.118(a) says systemic therapy is treatment administered through any route (orally, injection, suppository, intranasally) other than the skin. Topical therapy is treatment administered through the skin.
FAQ
What percentages apply to DC 7816?
DC 7816 says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. That formula prints 60, 30, 10, and 0. The psoriasis note does not add another percentage. Education only.
Does the complications note end with a period?
No. It reads: rate complications such as psoriatic arthritis and other clinical manifestations (e.g., oral mucosa, nails) separately under the appropriate diagnostic code.
Does the scar instruction skip psoriasis?
The last formula line says the disfigurement-or-scars instruction does not apply to DC 7824. DC 7816 is inside 7813-7816. It is not DC 7824.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7816, which formula line it used, and whether the complications note was addressed.
- The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
- Other skin codes are on the skin 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 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 7813Dermatophytosis
- DC 7815Bullous disorders
- 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
- DC 7823Vitiligo
- DC 7824Keratinization, diseases
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7816 • 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.