38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.118

Malignant skin neoplasms other than malignant melanoma — VA Diagnostic Code 7818

Skin

Diagnostic code

7818

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38 CFR § 4.118 lists Diagnostic Code 7818 as “Malignant skin neoplasms (other than malignant melanoma):”. The title ends with a colon and keeps the parenthetical. The rating cell is empty. The criteria cell says to rate as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, scars, or impairment of function. The note assigns 100 percent when therapy is comparable to that used for systemic malignancies. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Malignant skin neoplasms.” and drops the parenthetical. The catalog display name matches that shorter index line. The catalog slug is dc-7818-malignant-skin-neoplasms.

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

7818 Malignant skin neoplasms (other than malignant melanoma)

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Rate as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800), scars (DC's 7801, 7802, 7803, 7804, or 7805), or impairment of function

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	Rate as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800), scars (DC's 7801, 7802, 7803, 7804, or 7805), or impairment of function

Note: If a skin malignancy requires therapy that is comparable to that used for systemic malignancies, i.e., systemic chemotherapy, X-ray therapy more extensive than to the skin, or surgery more extensive than wide local excision, a 100-percent evaluation will be assigned from the date of onset of treatment, and will continue, with a mandatory VA examination six months following the completion of such antineoplastic treatment, and any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination will be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, evaluation will then be made on residuals. If treatment is confined to the skin, the provisions for a 100-percent evaluation do not apply.

The rate-as line does not end with a period. It does not add “under the appropriate body system.” It names DC 7803. The 2026-10-01 headings in § 4.118 do not include a heading for DC 7803.

The note ends with a period. It includes the words “of this chapter” after § 3.105(e).

The schedule title keeps “(other than malignant melanoma)” and ends with a colon. Appendix B drops that parenthetical and ends with a period.

The 100 percent is in the note, not in a percentage cell. 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.

DC 7833 is malignant melanoma. Its rate-as line puts scars first and disfigurement second, and it adds “under the appropriate body system” after impairment of function. DC 7833’s note does not include “of this chapter” after § 3.105(e). DC 7818’s note does. The DC 7833 page already records that difference.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “7818,” “melanoma,” or “skin cancer.” 38 CFR § 3.311(b)(2)(vii) lists “Skin cancer” and does not assign DC 7818. This page does not add DC 7818 to a presumptive row.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7818, 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

Other than malignant melanoma

Those words are in the schedule title. Appendix B and the catalog display name drop them. Malignant melanoma is DC 7833.

The three examples in the note

The note’s “i.e.” list is systemic chemotherapy, X-ray therapy more extensive than to the skin, or surgery more extensive than wide local excision. If treatment is confined to the skin, the note says the provisions for a 100-percent evaluation do not apply.

of this chapter

DC 7818’s note says the change in evaluation is subject to § 3.105(e) of this chapter. The parallel note on DC 7833 stops at § 3.105(e).

Evidence that speaks to each level

The 100 percent note

What the rater needs to see. Whether therapy was comparable to that used for systemic malignancies, using the note’s examples, and whether treatment was confined to the skin. The 100 percent runs from the date of onset of treatment, with an examination six months after antineoplastic treatment is completed.

Where that usually lives. The treatment record, including the start date and the completion date.

The rate-as line

What the rater needs to see. Disfigurement of the head, face, or neck under DC 7800, scars under the codes the line names, or impairment of function. The note uses residuals when there has been no local recurrence or metastasis.

Where that usually lives. The skin or scar examination, or the examination of the function that is impaired.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
The 100 percent note	Whether therapy was comparable to that used for systemic malignancies, using the note’s examples, and whether treatment was confined to the skin. The 100 percent runs from the date of onset of treatment, with an examination six months after antineoplastic treatment is completed.	The treatment record, including the start date and the completion date.
The rate-as line	Disfigurement of the head, face, or neck under DC 7800, scars under the codes the line names, or impairment of function. The note uses residuals when there has been no local recurrence or metastasis.	The skin or scar examination, or the examination of the function that is impaired.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Skin Diseases” and, separately, “Scars.” The files are Skin Diseases and Scars.

The exam form

DC 7818’s line is the rate-as instruction, and the 100 percent is in the note. This page does not say either form replaces that text.

Related codes and how they interact

Malignant melanoma is DC 7833

DC 7833 is the code the parenthetical excludes. DC 7800 and DC 7805 are two of the codes the rate-as line names. DC 7804 is also in that scar list.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not contain “7818,” “melanoma,” or “skin cancer.” Section 3.311(b)(2)(vii) lists “Skin cancer” and does not assign DC 7818. Melanoma is addressed on the DC 7833 page, including 38 U.S.C. § 1120(b)(2)(I). This page does not add DC 7818 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 malignant skin neoplasms under DC 7818?

Under 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7818 rates malignant skin neoplasms other than malignant melanoma as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, as scars, or as impairment of function. The note assigns 100 percent from the date of onset of therapy comparable to that used for systemic malignancies, unless treatment is confined to the skin. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does § 3.311 assign this code to skin cancer?

Section 3.311(b)(2)(vii) lists “Skin cancer” and does not assign DC 7818. Section 3.309 does not contain “7818” or “skin cancer.” Malignant melanoma is DC 7833.

FAQ

What percentage does the DC 7818 rating cell print?

None. The cell says to rate as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800), scars (DC's 7801, 7802, 7803, 7804, or 7805), or impairment of function. The 100 percent is in the note, and it does not apply when treatment is confined to the skin. Education only.

Does Appendix B keep “other than malignant melanoma”?

No. Appendix B says “Malignant skin neoplasms.” The schedule title keeps “(other than malignant melanoma).”

How is this note different from the DC 7833 note?

DC 7818’s note adds “of this chapter” after § 3.105(e). DC 7833’s note does not. DC 7818’s rate-as line puts disfigurement first and does not add “under the appropriate body system.”

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7818, whether the note’s 100 percent was used, and which rate-as code was used afterward.
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 7818 • 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.