Diagnostic Code 7816: Psoriasis Rating Criteria

CFR section: 38 CFR § 4.118
Rating range: 0% to 60%
Rating levels: 4
Body system: Skin conditions

The VA rates Psoriasis under diagnostic code 7816 in 38 CFR § 4.118. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.

DC 7816 rating criteria

Rating	Criteria
0%	No more than topical therapy required over the past 12-month period and at least one of the following: characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the entire body affected; or characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of exposed areas affected What raters look forno more than topical therapy in the past 12 months; characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the entire body or of exposed areas
10%	At least one of the following: characteristic lesions involving at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of the entire body affected; or at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of exposed areas affected; or intermittent systemic therapy including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, or other immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of less than 6 weeks over the past 12-month period What raters look forat least 5 percent but less than 20 percent of the entire body or of exposed areas; intermittent systemic therapy totaling less than 6 weeks in the past 12 months
30%	At least one of the following: characteristic lesions involving 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or 20 to 40 percent of exposed areas affected; or systemic therapy including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, or other immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of 6 weeks or more, but not constantly, over the past 12-month period What raters look for20 to 40 percent of the entire body or of exposed areas; systemic therapy totaling 6 weeks or more, but not constantly, in the past 12 months
60%	At least one of the following: 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 including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, psoralen with long-wave ultraviolet-A light (PUVA), or other immunosuppressive drugs required over the past 12-month period What raters look formore than 40 percent of the entire body or of exposed areas; constant or near-constant systemic therapy over the past 12 months

Notes on how DC 7816 is applied

Rated under the General Rating Formula for the Skin (38 CFR § 4.118). Systemic therapy is treatment administered through any route other than the skin (orally, injection, suppository, intranasally); topical therapy is administered through the skin (§ 4.118(a)). The formula also allows rating as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800) or scars (DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805), depending upon the predominant disability. The formula lists biologics among systemic therapies, so constant or near-constant biologic therapy over the past 12 months meets the 60 percent systemic-therapy criterion. Rate complications such as psoriatic arthritis and other clinical manifestations (e.g., oral mucosa, nails) separately under the appropriate code.

DC 7816 rating appeals at the Board

The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 156 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 7816 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 34.0%, denied 51.9% and sent 14.1% back for more work. One appeal can contain more than one ruling.

Method: Claim Raven read each ruling in every Board decision stored for 2021 to 2026 and counted it under this code when the decision named DC 7816 for a rating question. These results cover only rulings with an identified diagnostic code and may not represent rulings where no code was stated. Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out. These are outcomes within appeals, not first decisions, and not your personal odds.

Condition guide

The rating criteria are only part of the picture for Psoriasis. The Psoriasis condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.

What happens to Psoriasis appeals at the Board

24.5%Granted

27.1%Denied

48.5%Remanded

Claim Raven's analysis of 683 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on Psoriasis, 2021 to 2026. The Psoriasis condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.

Method: each ruling's outcome is read from the order in the Board's published decision and rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, leaving out dismissals and withdrawals. The data codes the condition the Board ruled on, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe Psoriasis appeals generally rather than DC 7816 specifically. The DC 7816 section above counts this code's own rating appeals. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.

Frequently asked questions

What is VA diagnostic code 7816?

Diagnostic code 7816 is the VA rating schedule entry for Psoriasis, found in 38 CFR § 4.118. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.

What ratings are possible under DC 7816?

DC 7816 provides ratings of 0%, 10%, 30%, 60%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.

What does the highest rating under DC 7816 require?

The 60% rating for Psoriasis requires: At least one of the following: 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 including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, psoralen with long-wave ultraviolet-A light (PUVA), or other immunosuppressive drugs required over the past 12-month period.

How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 7816?

In 153 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 7816 from 2021 to 2026, 32.7% were granted, 52.9% denied and 14.4% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.

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Other skin conditions codes

All 12 skin conditions codes

Claim Raven is not legal or medical advice and is not an official VA application. Rating criteria are quoted from 38 CFR Part 4; the VA applies them to your specific record. Veterans Crisis Line: 988, then 1