38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.118

Chloracne — VA Diagnostic Code 7829

Skin

Diagnostic code

7829

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38 CFR § 4.118 lists Diagnostic Code 7829 as “Chloracne.” The percentage lines are 30, 20, 10, and 0, using the words deep acne and superficial acne. A further line says to rate as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800) or scars, depending upon the predominant disability. Section 3.309(e) says “Chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne,” and § 3.307(a)(6)(ii) requires that disease to become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after the last date of herbicide exposure.

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

Chloracne — DC 7829

Rating %: 30

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

Rating %: 20

Criteria (verbatim). Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting the intertriginous areas (the axilla of the arm, the anogenital region, skin folds of the breasts, or between digits)

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 affecting non-intertriginous areas of the body (other than 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
20	Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting the intertriginous areas (the axilla of the arm, the anogenital region, skin folds of the breasts, or between digits)
10	Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting less than 40 percent of the face and neck; or deep acne affecting non-intertriginous areas of the body (other than 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

DC 7829 prints a 0 percent line for superficial acne of any extent. 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.

DC 7828, acne, uses the same 30 percent face-and-neck line and the same 0 percent superficial-acne line. It does not print the 20 percent intertriginous line. Its 10 percent line is “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.”

Source: 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7829, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Deep acne and superficial acne

The schedule defines deep acne in parentheses as “deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts,” and superficial acne as “comedones, papules, pustules.” The 0 percent line is superficial acne of any extent.

Intertriginous areas

The 20 percent line names “the axilla of the arm, the anogenital region, skin folds of the breasts, or between digits.” DC 7828 does not print that 20 percent line.

Or rate as disfigurement or scars

The last line is not a percentage. 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. DC 7804 is one of the scar codes named in that line.

Within a year after the last exposure

38 CFR § 3.307(a)(6)(ii) says the § 3.309(e) diseases shall have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more at any time after service, except that chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, and early-onset peripheral neuropathy shall have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after the last date on which the veteran was exposed to an herbicide agent during active military, naval, or air service.

Evidence that speaks to each level

30, 20, 10, or 0

What the rater needs to see. Whether the record describes deep acne or superficial acne, and the areas the lines name: 40 percent or more of the face and neck, the intertriginous areas the 20 percent line lists, less than 40 percent of the face and neck, or non-intertriginous areas other than the face and neck.

Where that usually lives. The skin examination, including the location and the description of the lesions.

Disfigurement or scars

What the rater needs to see. The “or rate as” line, if the predominant disability is disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, or scars under the codes that line names.

Where that usually lives. The examination of the head, face, neck, or scars, read with DC 7800 or DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805.

The one-year herbicide rule

What the rater needs to see. If the question is the § 3.309(e) presumption, the last date of herbicide exposure and whether the disease became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after that date.

Where that usually lives. Service records for the exposure date, and medical records for the manifestation date.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
30, 20, 10, or 0	Whether the record describes deep acne or superficial acne, and the areas the lines name: 40 percent or more of the face and neck, the intertriginous areas the 20 percent line lists, less than 40 percent of the face and neck, or non-intertriginous areas other than the face and neck.	The skin examination, including the location and the description of the lesions.
Disfigurement or scars	The “or rate as” line, if the predominant disability is disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, or scars under the codes that line names.	The examination of the head, face, neck, or scars, read with DC 7800 or DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805.
The one-year herbicide rule	If the question is the § 3.309(e) presumption, the last date of herbicide exposure and whether the disease became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after that date.	Service records for the exposure date, and medical records for the manifestation date.

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 7829’s lines are the deep-acne and superficial-acne percentages, plus the instruction to rate disfigurement or scars depending upon the predominant disability. This page does not say either form replaces that text.

Related codes and how they interact

Acne under DC 7828 is not the same 10 and 20 percent lines

DC 7828 does not print a 20 percent line. Its 10 percent line says “or deep acne other than on the face and neck,” not the DC 7829 words “non-intertriginous areas of the body (other than the face and neck).”

38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided. The DC 7829 “or rate as” line already says the disfigurement or scar rating depends upon the predominant disability.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

38 CFR § 3.309(e) lists “Chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne.” The schedule title is “Chloracne.” The regulation’s longer phrase is not the schedule title.

38 U.S.C. § 1116(a)(2)(C), read on the Legal Information Institute page on 2026-10-05, names “Chloracne or another acneform disease consistent with chloracne becoming manifest to a degree of disability of 10 percent or more within one year after the last date on which the veteran performed covered service.” The statute says “another” and “within one year” after covered service. Section 3.307(a)(6)(ii) says “other” and “within a year” after the last date of exposure to an herbicide agent. This page does not treat those sentences as identical.

Section 3.309(a) does not name chloracne. Section 3.309(f) does not name it. Section 3.309(d) does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320 does not name this condition. 38 CFR § 3.316 does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320a does not name it. Section 3.320b does not name it.

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 DC 7829?

Under 38 CFR § 4.118, chloracne is rated 30, 20, 10, or 0 percent on the deep-acne and superficial-acne lines, or as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck or as scars, depending upon the predominant disability. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is chloracne presumptive for herbicide exposure?

38 CFR § 3.309(e) lists chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne. Section 3.307(a)(6)(ii) requires manifestation to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after the last herbicide exposure. The statute’s paragraph 1116(a)(2)(C) uses “another acneform disease” and “within one year” after covered service.

FAQ

How does VA rate chloracne under DC 7829?

Deep acne affecting 40 percent or more of the face and neck is 30 percent. Deep acne affecting the intertriginous areas named in the schedule is 20 percent. Deep acne affecting less than 40 percent of the face and neck, or deep acne affecting non-intertriginous areas of the body other than the face and neck, is 10 percent. Superficial acne of any extent is 0 percent. The schedule also says to rate disfigurement or scars, depending upon the predominant disability. Education only.

How is DC 7829 different from DC 7828?

DC 7828, acne, has no 20 percent intertriginous line. Its 10 percent line says “deep acne other than on the face and neck.” DC 7829’s 10 percent line says “deep acne affecting non-intertriginous areas of the body (other than the face and neck).”

What is the herbicide time limit for chloracne?

Section 3.307(a)(6)(ii) requires chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne to become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after the last date of herbicide exposure. Most other § 3.309(e) diseases in that sentence are not limited to that year.

Is chloracne on the Camp Lejeune list or the burn-pit list in § 3.320?

Section 3.309(f) does not name chloracne. Section 3.320 does not name it. Section 3.320b does not name it. Section 3.316 does not name it. The herbicide entry is § 3.309(e).

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7829 or DC 7828, the percentage line, and whether the “or rate as” line 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 7829 • 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.