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38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.118

Erythroderma — VA Diagnostic Code 7817

Skin

Diagnostic code

7817

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38 CFR § 4.118 lists Diagnostic Code 7817 as “Erythroderma:”. The title ends with a colon. The lines run 100, 60, 30, 10, and 0. The 100 and 60 levels are split across more than one row, and some of those rows have an empty rating cell. One note defines treatment failure. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Erythroderma.” The catalog display name is “Erythroderma.” The catalog slug is dc-7817-erythroderma.

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was last amended on 2026-08-27. On 2026-10-05 the titles list reports up to date as of 2026-10-02. Section 4.118 source note: 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 rating criteria at each level

7817 Erythroderma

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Generalized involvement of the skin with systemic manifestations (such as fever, weight loss, or hypoproteinemia) AND one of the following

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as therapeutic doses of corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive drugs, retinoids, PUVA (psoralen with long-wave ultraviolet-A light), UVB (ultraviolet-B light) treatments, biologics, or electron beam therapy required over the past 12 month period; or

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). No current treatment due to a documented history of treatment failure with 2 or more treatment regimens

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Generalized involvement of the skin without systemic manifestations and one of the following

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as therapeutic doses of corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive drugs, retinoids, PUVA, UVB treatments, biologics, or electron beam therapy required over the past 12-month period; or

Rating %: 60

Criteria (verbatim). No current treatment due to a documented history of treatment failure with 1 treatment regimen

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Any extent of involvement of the skin, and any of the following therapies required for a total duration of 6 weeks or more, but not constantly, over the past 12-month period: systemic therapy such as therapeutic doses of corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive drugs, retinoids, PUVA, UVB treatments, biologics, or electron beam therapy

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Any extent of involvement of the skin, and any of the following therapies required for a total duration of less than 6 weeks over the past 12-month period: systemic therapy such as therapeutic doses of corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive drugs, retinoids, PUVA, UVB treatments, biologics, or electron beam therapy

Rating %: 0

Criteria (verbatim). Any extent of involvement of the skin, and no more than topical therapy required over the past 12-month period

Note: Treatment failure is defined as either disease progression, or less than a 25 percent reduction in the extent and severity of disease after four weeks of prescribed therapy, as documented by medical records

The note does not end with a period. None of the criteria lines end with a period.

The 100 is printed on the lead-in row and again on the second alternative. The first alternative’s rating cell is empty. That first alternative says “12 month,” without a hyphen. Later lines say “12-month.”

The 60 is printed only on the second alternative. The lead-in “without systemic manifestations” and the first alternative have empty rating cells.

The General Rating Formula For The Skin is captioned for DCs 7806, 7809, 7813-7816, 7820-7822, and 7824. DC 7817 is not in that list. It prints its own lines.

The schedule title ends with a colon. Appendix B ends with a period.

Section 4.118(a) says that, 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. 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, then only the highest evaluation shall be used. 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. 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.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “erythroderma” or “7817.” This page does not add DC 7817 to a presumptive row.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7817, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. The 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.

What the words mean in your records

AND is capitalized

The 100 percent lead-in prints “AND one of the following” in capitals. This page keeps that capitalization.

12 month versus 12-month

Only the first alternative under the 100 percent lead-in says “past 12 month period,” with no hyphen. The 60 percent alternative and the 30, 10, and 0 lines say “12-month.”

Treatment failure is the note

The note defines treatment failure as disease progression, or less than a 25 percent reduction in extent and severity after four weeks of prescribed therapy, as documented by medical records. It does not end with a period.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 or 60

What the rater needs to see. Whether involvement is generalized, whether systemic manifestations such as fever, weight loss, or hypoproteinemia are present, and which of the following the record shows: constant or near-constant systemic therapy, or no current treatment because of documented treatment failure with the number of regimens the line names.

Where that usually lives. The dermatology record for the past 12-month period, including the therapy and any documented treatment failure.

30, 10, or 0

What the rater needs to see. Any extent of involvement, and whether systemic therapy lasted 6 weeks or more but not constantly, lasted less than 6 weeks, or no more than topical therapy was required, over the past 12-month period.

Where that usually lives. The treatment log for that 12-month period.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Skin Diseases” under Dermatological. The file is Skin Diseases.

The exam form

DC 7817 prints its own 100, 60, 30, 10, and 0 lines. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

The general skin formula does not include this code

The General Rating Formula For The Skin is captioned for DCs 7806, 7809, 7813-7816, 7820-7822, and 7824. DC 7818 is malignant skin neoplasms other than malignant melanoma, and it uses a rate-as line rather than these erythroderma lines.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not contain “erythroderma” or “7817.” This page does not add DC 7817 to a presumptive row.

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

How does VA rate erythroderma under DC 7817?

Under 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7817 rates erythroderma at 100, 60, 30, 10, or 0 percent. The 100 and 60 levels are written as a lead-in plus alternatives, and some of those rows have an empty rating cell. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is erythroderma rated on the general skin formula?

No. The general formula is captioned for DCs 7806, 7809, 7813-7816, 7820-7822, and 7824. DC 7817 prints its own lines.

FAQ

What are the DC 7817 percentages?

100, 60, 30, 10, and 0. The 100 percent lead-in is generalized involvement with systemic manifestations and one of the following. The 100 is also printed on the row for no current treatment after treatment failure with 2 or more regimens. The first alternative’s rating cell is empty. Education only.

Where does the table hyphenate 12-month?

The first alternative under the 100 percent lead-in says “12 month” with no hyphen. The later duration lines say “12-month.”

How does the note define treatment failure?

Disease progression, or less than a 25 percent reduction in the extent and severity of disease after four weeks of prescribed therapy, as documented by medical records. The note does not end with a period.

Next steps

  • Read the decision for DC 7817 and which row’s rating cell was used.
  • 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

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7817 • va.gov

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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.

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