Psoriasis
DC 7816 §4.118 Skin ICD-10: L40.9 Direct
VA rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 60% | Characteristic lesions involving more than 40 percent of the entire body or more than 40 percent of exposed areas affected, or; constant or near-constant systemic therapy required over the past 12 months |
| 30% | Characteristic lesions involving 20-40 percent of the entire body or 20-40 percent of exposed areas, or; systemic therapy required for 6+ weeks but not constantly over the past 12 months |
| 10% | Characteristic lesions involving 5-20 percent of the entire body or 5-20 percent of exposed areas, or; intermittent systemic therapy required for less than 6 weeks over the past 12 months |
| 0% | No more than topical therapy required over the past 12 months and characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the body or exposed areas |
Filing this claim
This is typically filed as a direct service connection claim. You need a current diagnosis, evidence of in-service event or exposure, and a nexus letter linking them. Use the letter generators to draft your nexus letter and Statement in Support of Claim.
Step by step
- File an Intent to File (Form 21-0966) to lock your effective date.
- Confirm you have a current medical diagnosis in a medical record.
- Get a nexus letter — magic phrase: "at least as likely as not."
- Write a Statement in Support of Claim (21-4138).
- If applicable, gather buddy statements (21-10210).
- File the formal 21-526EZ.
Source: 38 CFR §4.118. For exact regulatory language, consult eCFR Title 38. This is general education — for your specific case, consult a VA-accredited representative.