Psoriasis VA Rating
How VA rates Psoriasis under diagnostic code 7816, what evidence decides the percentage, and the reasons these claims get denied or under-rated.
Psoriasis is rated under diagnostic code 7816. In the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities it appears as Psoriasis, within the Skin section of 38 CFR Part 4.
The essentials
| Diagnostic code | 7816 |
|---|---|
| Rating schedule name | Psoriasis |
| Body system | Skin |
| Examination form | DERM Skin diseases |
What evidence decides the rating
For skin conditions, these are the findings VA weighs when assigning a percentage. If your examination did not address them, the examination may be inadequate for rating purposes — which is itself an argument on appeal.
- Percentage of total body area and of exposed body area affected — measured, not estimated
- Whether systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressives was required, and for how many weeks in a twelve-month period
- Photographs taken during an active flare, since skin conditions are often quiescent at the exam
Why these claims get denied or under-rated
These are the failure patterns we see most often on psoriasis and related skin claims:
- The examination was scheduled outside a flare, so body-surface-area was recorded as minimal
- Systemic therapy was documented but the duration in weeks was not, so the higher criteria could not be applied
Secondary service connection
Under 38 CFR §3.310, a condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected condition is itself service-connected. Secondary claims are where most veterans are leaving compensation on the table — and where most denials turn on the nexus opinion rather than the diagnosis.
Psoriasis is commonly claimed secondary to
- Stress from a service-connected mental health condition
- Medication side effects
Psoriasis commonly causes or aggravates
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Depression and social withdrawal
If you are already service-connected for psoriasis and any of these apply to you, they may be claimable as secondary conditions.
If your claim was denied or under-rated
A denial is not the end of the claim. Which route is right depends on why VA decided the way it did:
- Higher-Level Review — when the evidence already in the file supports a grant and VA got the decision wrong, or the examination was inadequate.
- Supplemental Claim — when you have new and relevant evidence, such as a private nexus opinion.
- Board Appeal — when you need a Veterans Law Judge to decide, or want a hearing.
- Clear and Unmistakable Error — when a decision more than a year old contains an undebatable error, which can recover retroactive pay.
Effective dates matter as much as the percentage. See effective dates and back pay for how far back an award can reach.
Sources
Related conditions
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This page is educational information, not legal advice. VA rules and deadlines change — always confirm details with the official source (38 CFR, M21-1) or your accredited claims agent. Borne Accredited Claims is an accredited VA claims agent under 38 CFR §14.629 and is not part of, or endorsed by, the Department of Veterans Affairs. We do not guarantee any specific outcome.