38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.118

Malignant melanoma — VA Diagnostic Code 7833

Skin

Diagnostic code

7833

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38 CFR § 4.118 lists Diagnostic Code 7833 as “Malignant melanoma.” The rating line does not print a percentage. It says to rate as scars, disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, or impairment of function. The note assigns 100 percent when a skin malignancy requires therapy comparable to that used for systemic malignancies, and it lists three examples. 38 U.S.C. § 1120(b)(2)(I) says “Melanoma.” The schedule title adds the word “Malignant.” Section 3.320 does not name melanoma.

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

Malignant melanoma — DC 7833

Rating %: —

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

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

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). 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 rating column for that line is blank. The 100 percent is in the note, not in a percentage cell. The note cites § 3.105(e) and does not add the words “of this chapter.” 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 rate-as line names DC 7803. The 2026-10-01 headings in § 4.118 include DC 7800, DC 7801, DC 7802, DC 7804, and DC 7805. They do not include a heading for DC 7803. This page does not supply criteria for a code the section does not head.

DC 7833 does not print a 0 percent line. 38 CFR § 4.31 says: “In every instance 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 7833, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

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. The note does not name immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or a drug. This page does not add examples the note does not print. If treatment is confined to the skin, the note says the provisions for a 100-percent evaluation do not apply.

Six months after antineoplastic treatment

The 100-percent evaluation is assigned from the date of onset of treatment and continues with a mandatory VA examination six months following the completion of such antineoplastic treatment. A change based on that examination, or a later one, is subject to § 3.105(e). If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, evaluation is then made on residuals.

DC 7818 excludes malignant melanoma

DC 7818 is “Malignant skin neoplasms (other than malignant melanoma).” Its rate-as line puts disfigurement first and scars second. DC 7833 puts scars first and disfigurement second, and it adds “under the appropriate body system” after impairment of function. DC 7818’s note includes the words “of this chapter” after § 3.105(e). DC 7833’s note does not.

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: systemic chemotherapy, X-ray therapy more extensive than to the skin, or surgery more extensive than wide local excision. The note also asks whether treatment was confined to the skin.

Where that usually lives. The treatment record, including the date treatment started and the date it was completed.

Residuals

What the rater needs to see. The rate-as line: scars under the codes it names, disfigurement of the head, face, or neck under DC 7800, or impairment of function under the appropriate body system. 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 body system the impairment affects.

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: systemic chemotherapy, X-ray therapy more extensive than to the skin, or surgery more extensive than wide local excision. The note also asks whether treatment was confined to the skin.	The treatment record, including the date treatment started and the date it was completed.
Residuals	The rate-as line: scars under the codes it names, disfigurement of the head, face, or neck under DC 7800, or impairment of function under the appropriate body system. The note uses residuals when there has been no local recurrence or metastasis.	The skin or scar examination, or the examination of the body system the impairment affects.

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 7833’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

Other malignant skin neoplasms are DC 7818

DC 7818 says “other than malignant melanoma.” DC 7800 and DC 7804 are two of the codes named when the rating is disfigurement or scars. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

38 U.S.C. § 1120(b)(2)(I), read on the Legal Information Institute page on 2026-10-05, says “Melanoma.” Subsection (a) says a disease specified in subsection (b), becoming manifest in a covered veteran, shall be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated during active military, naval, air, or space service, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such disease during the period of such service, for the purposes of section 1110 and subject to section 1113. Subsection (c) defines covered veteran by reference to section 1119(c). The statute does not assign a diagnostic code. The schedule title is “Malignant melanoma.”

38 CFR § 3.320 does not name melanoma. Paragraph (a)(2) lists asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis, to include rhinosinusitis. Paragraph (a)(3) lists nine rare cancers of the larynx, trachea, or lung. 38 CFR § 3.320b does not name melanoma. The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.309(e) does not name it. Section 3.309(f) does not name it. Section 3.309(a) does not name it. Section 3.309(d) does not name melanoma. Section 3.316(a)(1) names squamous cell carcinoma of the skin after full-body exposure to nitrogen or sulfur mustard. It does not use the word melanoma.

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 7833?

Under 38 CFR § 4.118, malignant melanoma is rated as scars, as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, or as impairment of function. The note assigns a 100 percent evaluation when therapy is comparable to that used for systemic malignancies, from the date of onset of treatment, with an examination six months after that treatment is completed. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is melanoma presumptive for burn-pit exposure?

38 U.S.C. § 1120(b)(2)(I) lists melanoma for a covered veteran, subject to section 1113. The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.320 does not name melanoma. The schedule code for the title “Malignant melanoma” is DC 7833.

FAQ

How does VA rate malignant melanoma under DC 7833?

The rating line says to rate as scars (DC's 7801, 7802, 7803, 7804, or 7805), disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800), or impairment of function under the appropriate body system. The note assigns 100 percent from the date of onset of therapy comparable to that used for systemic malignancies. Its examples are 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, that 100 percent does not apply. Education only.

Is melanoma the same words as DC 7833?

38 U.S.C. § 1120(b)(2)(I) says “Melanoma.” The schedule title is “Malignant melanoma.” DC 7818 is malignant skin neoplasms other than malignant melanoma.

Does § 3.320 list melanoma?

The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.320 does not name melanoma. Section 3.320b does not name it. The statutory listing read for this page is 38 U.S.C. § 1120(b)(2)(I).

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7833 or DC 7818, whether the 100 percent note was used, and which residual code was used after treatment.
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 7833 • 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.