How the VA Rates Eczema

The VA rates eczema under Diagnostic Code 7806 (38 CFR §4.118, dermatitis or eczema), the same code used for the general dermatitis conditions covered on our dermatitis rating page. Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a distinct, chronic, itch-driven skin condition rather than a reaction to a specific contact irritant, but the VA scores it using the identical two-factor test: how much of your body DC 7806 considers affected, and how intensively it has to be treated.

Diagnostic Code 7806: Rating Criteria

Notice that DC 7806 gives credit for treatment burden even when the visible body-area percentage is small. A veteran whose eczema covers only 8% of their skin but who needs prescription-strength systemic medication for flares still qualifies under the treatment-duration prong as well as the body-area prong. This is the detail most veterans under-document, because they focus on describing what the rash looks like rather than what it takes to control it.

Eczema vs. Contact Dermatitis: Which Page Applies

Eczema and contact dermatitis are both rated under the same DC 7806, but they are clinically different conditions, and knowing which one you actually have changes what evidence you gather. Contact dermatitis is a reaction to a specific external irritant or allergen (a chemical, plant, fuel, or piece of gear) and tends to appear where the skin touched the trigger, which is why an in-service exposure event is often central to that claim; see our dermatitis rating guide for that angle. Eczema (atopic dermatitis), by contrast, is a chronic, relapsing condition tied to skin barrier function and allergic tendency, often present before service or aggravated by service stressors like heat, sweat, and abrasive uniforms, and it tends to recur in the same flexural areas (elbow creases, backs of knees, neck) regardless of a single identifiable trigger. Both file under DC 7806, but a dermatologist's diagnosis of "atopic dermatitis" versus "contact dermatitis" on your medical records is the detail that determines which claim narrative and nexus theory fits your case.

VA Rating for Jock Itch (Tinea Cruris)

Jock itch, medically tinea cruris, is a fungal infection rather than an autoimmune or allergic skin condition, and it is rated under DC 7813 (dermatophytosis). DC 7813 doesn't set its own percentage table; instead it directs the rater to apply whichever code best matches the predominant disability: DC 7806 (dermatitis) for a body-area fungal rash using the same body-area/treatment-duration criteria above, DC 7800 if it causes visible disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, or the scar codes (DC 7801-7805) if it has left residual scarring. In practice, most tinea cruris claims are rated under the DC 7806 body-area criteria, so the same evidence applies: photos, treatment records, and a percentage-of-body-area estimate from a dermatologist. Tinea cruris is disproportionately common among veterans because of its known risk factors: prolonged wear of sweat-soaked uniforms, extended field or deployment conditions with limited hygiene access, and hot, humid climates common to many duty stations. A veteran filing this claim should document how often the infection recurs and whether it has become chronic or antifungal-resistant, since a single treated episode is far less likely to support a compensable rating than a recurring, chronic pattern documented over multiple visits.

VA Rating for Vitiligo

Vitiligo is the loss of skin pigment in patches, and unlike eczema and jock itch, it has no dedicated diagnostic code in 38 CFR §4.118. The VA rates it by analogy based on where the depigmentation is located: vitiligo affecting the head, face, or neck is generally evaluated under DC 7800 (disfigurement), which rates on visible characteristics such as area, color contrast, and texture change rather than a body-area percentage; more widespread vitiligo on the trunk or limbs is generally evaluated by analogy to DC 7806, using the same body-area percentage thresholds described above. Because vitiligo has no fixed code, clear photographic documentation and a dermatologist's description of the affected area and its visibility matter even more than for eczema. Vitiligo is also frequently associated with other autoimmune conditions, most notably thyroid disease, so a veteran filing a vitiligo claim should be evaluated for related autoimmune markers, since a co-occurring thyroid disorder may itself be separately ratable and may also strengthen the medical picture supporting the vitiligo nexus.

Secondary Service Connection for Skin Conditions

Skin conditions are commonly filed as secondary claims rather than direct ones, because so many triggers trace back to an already-connected condition or its treatment. Eczema and vitiligo both have documented links to chronic stress and autoimmune activity, which means a veteran with a service-connected mental health condition such as PTSD or anxiety, or an existing autoimmune or endocrine diagnosis, has a plausible secondary pathway worth exploring with a treating provider. Medication side effects are another frequent route: certain drugs used to manage service-connected pain, mental health, or cardiovascular conditions can trigger or worsen dermatitis-family skin reactions, and a pharmacist's or prescriber's note flagging that side effect can support a secondary nexus. As with any secondary claim, a treating provider's written opinion connecting the skin condition to the already-service-connected condition or medication is what turns a plausible theory into evidence a rater can act on.

Evidence for a Skin Condition Claim

What to Expect at Your C&P Exam

For contact-dermatitis-specific detail, see our dermatitis rating guide; for scarring residuals from a skin condition or injury, see our scars rating guide. Use our VA disability rating calculator to see how a skin condition combines with your other conditions, or browse every rated condition at VA disability.