38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.118
Vasculitis, primary cutaneous — VA Diagnostic Code 7826
Skin
Diagnostic code
7826
38 CFR § 4.118 lists Diagnostic Code 7826 as “Vasculitis, primary cutaneous.” The code prints its own 60, 30, and 10 percent blocks. It does not say to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. A further line says to rate as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, or as scars, depending upon the predominant disability.
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
7826 Vasculitis, primary cutaneous
Rating %: 60
Criteria (verbatim). Persistent documented vasculitis episodes refractory to continuous immunosuppressive therapy
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). All of the following
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Recurrent documented vasculitic episodes occurring four or more times over the past 12-month period; and
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Requiring intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). At least one of the following
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Recurrent documented vasculitic episodes occurring one to three times over the past 12-month period, and requiring intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control; or
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Without recurrent documented vasculitic episodes but requiring continuous systemic medication for control
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
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 60 | Persistent documented vasculitis episodes refractory to continuous immunosuppressive therapy |
| 30 | All of the following |
| — | Recurrent documented vasculitic episodes occurring four or more times over the past 12-month period; and |
| 30 | Requiring intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control |
| 10 | At least one of the following |
| — | Recurrent documented vasculitic episodes occurring one to three times over the past 12-month period, and requiring intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control; or |
| — | Without recurrent documented vasculitic episodes but requiring continuous systemic medication for control |
| — | 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 |
eCFR prints 30 on “All of the following” and again on “Requiring intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control.” The episode row between them has an empty rating cell. eCFR prints 10 on “At least one of the following.” The two option rows under it, and the disfigurement-or-scars row, have empty rating cells. A blank rating cell on this page marks that layout. It is not an extra level.
The 60 percent line says “vasculitis.” The 30 and 10 percent episode lines say “vasculitic.” The 60 percent line says “continuous immunosuppressive therapy” and does not use the word “systemic.” The 30 percent therapy line and the first 10 percent option say “intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy.” The second 10 percent option says “continuous systemic medication.”
DC 7826 does not say to use the General Rating Formula for the Skin. DC 7815 does. 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 § 4.118(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. Paragraph (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. DC 7826’s own lines use “immunosuppressive therapy” and “systemic medication.” Paragraph (a) defines “systemic therapy” and “topical therapy.”
The code does not print a 0 percent line. 38 CFR § 4.31 says that where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7826, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
Four or more, and one to three
The 30 percent episode row is four or more times over the past 12-month period, joined by “and” to intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control. The first 10 percent option is one to three times over the past 12-month period, and that same therapy. The “or” before the continuous-systemic-medication option is printed on the one-to-three row.
Refractory to continuous immunosuppressive therapy
That phrase is the 60 percent line, with “persistent documented vasculitis episodes.” The line does not say “systemic.”
Evidence that speaks to each level
60
What the rater needs to see. Persistent documented vasculitis episodes refractory to continuous immunosuppressive therapy. The line uses “vasculitis,” not “vasculitic.”
Where that usually lives. The dermatology record of the episodes and of the continuous immunosuppressive therapy.
30 — all of the following
What the rater needs to see. Recurrent documented vasculitic episodes occurring four or more times over the past 12-month period, and intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control.
Where that usually lives. The episode count for that 12-month period and the therapy record.
10 — at least one of the following
What the rater needs to see. Either one to three documented vasculitic episodes over the past 12-month period with intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy for control, or no recurrent documented episodes but continuous systemic medication for control.
Where that usually lives. The same episode count, or the medication list the second option names.
Disfigurement or scars
What the rater needs to see. The last row: rate as DC 7800, or as DC 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805, depending upon the predominant disability.
Where that usually lives. The examination of the head, face, or neck, or of the scars.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Skin Diseases” and, separately, “Scars,” under Dermatological. The files are Skin Diseases and Scars.
The exam form
DC 7826 prints the 60, 30, and 10 percent blocks and the disfigurement-or-scars row. This page does not say either form replaces that text.
Related codes and how they interact
The skin formula is a different instruction
DC 7815 says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. DC 7826 does not. 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. 38 CFR § 4.118(b) is the rule for two or more skin conditions, and it cites 38 CFR § 4.25 only when separate areas of skin are involved.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “vasculitis.” Section 3.309(e) lists chloracne, which is DC 7829, and porphyria cutanea tarda, which is inside the DC 7815 title. Neither sentence is DC 7826.
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 primary cutaneous vasculitis?
Under 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7826 rates primary cutaneous vasculitis at 60, 30, or 10 percent, or as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800) or scars (DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805), depending upon the predominant disability. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Is vasculitis a presumptive disease in § 3.309?
The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.309 does not contain the word vasculitis.
FAQ
How does VA rate primary cutaneous vasculitis under DC 7826?
The blocks are 60, 30, and 10 percent. The 60 percent line is persistent documented vasculitis episodes refractory to continuous immunosuppressive therapy. The 30 percent block is four or more vasculitic episodes in the past 12 months and intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy. The 10 percent block is one of two listed findings. A further row rates disfigurement or scars, depending upon the predominant disability. Education only.
Does DC 7826 use the general skin formula?
No. The code prints its own lines. DC 7815 is an example of a code that says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin.
Why do two rows both show 30?
The eCFR table prints 30 on “All of the following” and again on the therapy row. The episode row between them has no number in the rating column.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7826, the episode count, the therapy words, and whether DC 7800 or a scar code 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.
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 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
- DC 7825Chronic urticaria
- DC 7827Erythema multiforme
- DC 7828Acne
- DC 7829Chloracne
- DC 7830Scarring alopecia
- DC 7831Alopecia areata
- DC 7832Hyperhidrosis
- DC 7833Malignant melanoma
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7826 • 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.