38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.118

Acne — VA Diagnostic Code 7828

Skin

Diagnostic code

7828

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38 CFR § 4.118 lists Diagnostic Code 7828 as “Acne:”. The title ends with a colon. The lines are 30, 10, and 0. A further row, with an empty rating cell, says to rate as disfigurement or scars depending upon the predominant disability. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Acne.” The catalog slug is dc-7828-acne.

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

7828 Acne

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting 40 percent or more of the face and neck

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting less than 40 percent of the face and neck, or deep acne other than on the face and neck

Rating %: 0

Criteria (verbatim). Superficial acne (comedones, papules, pustules) of any extent

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)
30	Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting 40 percent or more of the face and neck
10	Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting less than 40 percent of the face and neck, or deep acne other than on the face and neck
0	Superficial acne (comedones, papules, pustules) of any extent
—	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

None of the four criteria lines ends with a period. The alternate row’s rating cell is empty. It says “DCs,” not “DC's.” It names DC 7800, DC 7801, DC 7802, DC 7804, and DC 7805. It does not name DC 7803.

The General Rating Formula For The Skin is captioned for DCs 7806, 7809, 7813-7816, 7820-7822, and 7824. DC 7828 is not in that list.

The schedule title ends with a colon. Appendix B ends with a period. The next Appendix B line is “Chloracne.” That is DC 7829, not this code.

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(e) lists “Chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne” and does not contain “7828” and it does not assign DC 7828. This page does not add DC 7828 to a presumptive row.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7828, 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

Deep versus superficial

The 30 and 10 percent lines both say deep acne, and both define it in parentheses as deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts. The 0 percent line says superficial acne, and defines it as comedones, papules, pustules, of any extent.

40 percent of the face and neck

That extent is the difference between the 30 percent line and the face-and-neck part of the 10 percent line. Deep acne other than on the face and neck is also on the 10 percent line.

Or rate as disfigurement or scars

That row depends upon the predominant disability. It names DC 7800 or the scar codes. It does not print its own percentage.

Evidence that speaks to each level

30, 10, or 0

What the rater needs to see. Whether the acne is deep or superficial, and, if deep, whether it affects 40 percent or more of the face and neck, less than 40 percent of the face and neck, or a site other than the face and neck.

Where that usually lives. The dermatology examination.

The alternate row

What the rater needs to see. The predominant disability, when the rating uses DC 7800 or one of the scar codes the row names.

Where that usually lives. The decision that names that other code.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
30, 10, or 0	Whether the acne is deep or superficial, and, if deep, whether it affects 40 percent or more of the face and neck, less than 40 percent of the face and neck, or a site other than the face and neck.	The dermatology examination.
The alternate row	The predominant disability, when the rating uses DC 7800 or one of the scar codes the row names.	The decision that names that other code.

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

The exam form

DC 7828 prints 30, 10, and 0, plus the alternate row. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Disfigurement and scars are other codes

DC 7800 is the disfigurement code the alternate row names. DC 7805 is one of the scar codes in that same row. Chloracne is the next Appendix B line, DC 7829.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309(e) lists chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne. It does not assign DC 7828. This page does not add DC 7828 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 acne under DC 7828?

Under 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7828 rates acne at 30, 10, or 0 percent, or as disfigurement or scars depending upon the predominant disability. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is DC 7828 on the general skin formula?

No. That formula is captioned for DCs 7806, 7809, 7813-7816, 7820-7822, and 7824. DC 7828 prints its own lines.

FAQ

What are the DC 7828 percentages?

30, 10, and 0. Deep acne affecting 40 percent or more of the face and neck is 30. Deep acne affecting less of the face and neck, or deep acne elsewhere, is 10. Superficial acne of any extent is 0. Education only.

Is chloracne this code?

No. Appendix B lists chloracne as DC 7829. Section 3.309(e) lists chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne and does not assign DC 7828.

Does the alternate row print a percentage?

No. It says to rate as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800) or scars (DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805), depending upon the predominant disability.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7828 and whether the alternate disfigurement or scar row 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 7828 • 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.