38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.118
Papulosquamous disorders not listed elsewhere — VA Diagnostic Code 7822
Skin
Diagnostic code
7822
38 CFR § 4.118 lists Diagnostic Code 7822 as “Papulosquamous disorders not listed elsewhere (including lichen planus, large or small plaque parapsoriasis, pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA), lymphomatoid papulosus, mycosis fungoides, and pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP)).” The title ends with a period after the closing parenthesis. The next row says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. The formula header names 7820-7822, so DC 7822 is inside it. The last formula line’s disfigurement-or-scars instruction does not apply to DC 7824. It does not say that about DC 7822. Appendix B indexes “Papulosquamous disorders not listed elsewhere.” and drops the parenthetical list. The schedule spells one example “lymphomatoid papulosus.”
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 rating criteria at each level
7822 Papulosquamous disorders not listed elsewhere
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.
The parenthetical list ends with “pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP)).” The period sits after the closing parenthesis. “Lymphomatoid papulosus” is the spelling in that list.
The last formula line says the disfigurement-or-scars instruction does not apply to DC 7824. DC 7822 is not DC 7824. The instruction remains in the formula that rates this code.
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. On the 60 percent block, the rating column also shows 60 on the systemic-therapy row. The formula includes a 0 percent line. 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 formula header includes DC 7822. DC 7824 is also in the header, and it is the code the last line excepts. DC 7820 is infections of the skin not listed elsewhere and uses the same “evaluate under” sentence. DC 7813 is inside 7813-7816. DC 7826 is primary cutaneous vasculitis. It is not in this header.
The last formula line names DC 7800, DC 7801, DC 7802, DC 7804, and DC 7805. 38 CFR § 4.118(b) is the same-area rule. 38 CFR § 4.25 is the combining rule that paragraph names.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7822 and the General Rating Formula for the Skin, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
Papulosus is the printed spelling
The DC 7822 title includes “lymphomatoid papulosus” among lichen planus, large or small plaque parapsoriasis, PLEVA, mycosis fungoides, and pityriasis rubra pilaris. That is the 2026-10-01 spelling.
The 7824 exception is not this code
The last formula line says its disfigurement-or-scars instruction does not apply to DC 7824. DC 7822 is inside 7820-7822. The exception sentence does not name 7822.
Systemic therapy is a route
Section 4.118(a) says systemic therapy is treatment administered through any route other than the skin, and it lists orally, injection, suppository, and intranasally. Topical therapy is treatment administered through the skin.
Evidence that speaks to each level
60, 30, 10, or 0 under the skin formula
What the rater needs to see. At least one finding in that block: the percent of the entire body or of exposed areas affected by characteristic lesions, or the systemic or topical therapy the block describes over the past 12-month period.
Where that usually lives. The skin examination and the treatment record for those 12 months.
The disfigurement instruction that still applies
What the rater needs to see. The last formula line, because the DC 7824 exception does not name DC 7822.
Where that usually lives. The same formula, and the scar or disfigurement findings if that instruction is the one used.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Skin Diseases” under Dermatological. The file is Skin Diseases.
The exam form
DC 7822 says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. This page does not say the form replaces that formula.
Related codes and how they interact
Keratinization shares the formula and carries the exception.
DC 7824 is in the same header. The last line says the disfigurement-or-scars instruction does not apply to DC 7824. That sentence is not a DC 7822 exception.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “papulosquamous,” “lichen planus,” “mycosis fungoides,” or “pityriasis.” “Coccidioidomycosis.” is a different word in the chronic-disease list. It is not assigned to DC 7822.
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 papulosquamous disorders not listed elsewhere?
Under 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7822 is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for the Skin at 60, 30, 10, or 0 percent. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Does the index keep the parenthetical list?
No. Appendix B says “Papulosquamous disorders not listed elsewhere.” The rating row keeps the examples and ends with a period after “(PRP).”
FAQ
How does VA rate papulosquamous disorders not listed elsewhere?
DC 7822 says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. The levels are 60, 30, 10, and 0. The last line can rate disfigurement or scars, depending on the predominant disability. That instruction does not apply to DC 7824. It is not excepted for DC 7822. Education only.
Which conditions does the title name?
The parenthetical list is lichen planus, large or small plaque parapsoriasis, pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA), lymphomatoid papulosus, mycosis fungoides, and pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP). The row spells the fourth example “papulosus.”
What counts as systemic therapy for this formula?
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. The DC 7827 note about antihistamines is printed under that code only.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7822 and which skin-formula block was used, including the percent of skin or the therapy over the past 12-month period.
- 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 7813Dermatophytosis
- 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 7823Vitiligo
- DC 7824Keratinization, diseases
- DC 7825Chronic urticaria
- DC 7826Vasculitis, primary cutaneous
- DC 7827Erythema multiforme
- DC 7828Acne
- DC 7829Chloracne
- DC 7830Scarring alopecia
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7822 • 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.