Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
Start a claim for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)— free & guided
Step-by-step builder: add this and any related conditions, see the research, and get a package ready for a free VSO. No account needed to start.
The DBQ for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960F-2 (Skin Diseases) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis), based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7806 (dermatitis or eczema). Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
No more than topical therapy required over the past 12 months, with less than 5 percent of the entire body or exposed areas affected.
At least 5 percent but less than 20 percent of the entire body or of exposed areas affected; or intermittent systemic therapy (such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressives) for less than six weeks over the past 12 months.
20 to 40 percent of the entire body or of exposed areas affected; or systemic therapy for a total of six weeks or more, but not constantly, over the past 12 months.
More than 40 percent of the entire body or of exposed areas affected; or constant or near-constant systemic therapy over the past 12 months.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
Cutis, 2023 · PMID 37224497
Finding: This military-focused review notes that short sleep duration is more common among service members than the general public because deployments and field training predispose them to disordered sleep, and it details mechanisms by which sleep deprivation can adversely affect the skin, specifically including atopic dermatitis.
Why it helps: Supports an association between conditions inherent to military service (chronic sleep deprivation from deployments and field training) and atopic dermatitis, which can help frame a service-connection argument for eczema.
Cureus, 2024 · nexus to depression, anxiety, PTSD/stress, suicidal ideation · PMID 39077283
Finding: Pooling 31 studies, atopic dermatitis was positively associated with stress (OR 1.546, 95% CI 1.445-1.653), depression (OR 1.140, 95% CI 1.127-1.153), anxiety (OR 1.080, 95% CI 1.063-1.097), and suicidal ideation (OR 1.158, 95% CI 1.144-1.172), all statistically significant.
Why it helps: Supports a bidirectional association between atopic dermatitis and service-connected mental health conditions, helpful when claiming eczema aggravated by PTSD/stress or claiming depression/anxiety as secondary to eczema.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 2021 · nexus to depression, suicidal ideation/behavior · PMID 33453551
Finding: In this meta-analysis, suicidal ideation rates with atopic dermatitis were 1.84-fold higher than controls (16.8% vs 9.12%; OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.32-5.19), with a trend toward more suicidal acts (OR 1.53, 95% CI 0.96-2.45).
Why it helps: Supports an association between atopic dermatitis and increased psychiatric morbidity, relevant when establishing a mental-health condition as secondary to eczema or eczema's contribution to overall disability burden.
British Journal of Dermatology, 2019 · nexus to anxiety, depression · PMID 30838645
Finding: In a population-based study of 2,893 U.S. adults, those with atopic dermatitis had higher odds of abnormal anxiety scores (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.65-2.91) and depression scores (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.04-2.17), and far higher rates of healthcare-diagnosed anxiety or depression (40.0% vs 17.5%), driven largely by AD severity.
Why it helps: Supports an association in U.S. adults between atopic dermatitis (especially more severe disease) and anxiety/depression, useful for a secondary mental-health claim and for showing the condition is frequently under-recognized.
Clinical Therapeutics, 2020 · nexus to PTSD, psychological stress · PMID 32276734
Finding: This review describes the biological pathway by which psychological stress drives skin inflammation, with activation of the HPA axis and a local skin CRH-POMC-ACTH-corticosteroid axis plus proinflammatory cytokine secretion, a stress-induced network confirmed as active in atopic dermatitis among other dermatoses.
Why it helps: Provides a plausible biological mechanism supporting how a service-connected stress condition such as PTSD could aggravate atopic dermatitis, strengthening a secondary-aggravation nexus argument.
Clinics in Dermatology, 2017 · nexus to obstructive sleep apnea · PMID 28511831
Finding: This review explains that the heightened proinflammatory state in obstructive sleep apnea can exacerbate inflammatory dermatoses, and that atopic dermatitis itself, via high sympathetic tone and resultant sleep fragmentation, can contribute to upper-airway instability during sleep.
Why it helps: Supports a bidirectional inflammatory association between obstructive sleep apnea and atopic dermatitis, useful when arguing eczema aggravated by service-connected sleep apnea or contributing to it.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis). A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
Share this rating breakdown
A free, source-cited infographic of how the VA rates Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis). Save it and post it, or send it to someone who needs it. No fee, no catch.
Square format, ready for an Instagram or Facebook post.
Open / save the image →Sharing the page link also shows a wide preview card automatically.
Filing a Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)claim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) should also be looking at:
Quick calculator
Estimate your combined rating →
The VA doesn't add ratings — they use a specific formula. See your combined rating in 30 seconds.
Health care
Estimate your VA Priority Group →
Priority Group 1-8 determines what care you get and what it costs. Service-connected = lower copays, full access.
Where you live
Compare 50 state veteran benefits →
State property tax exemptions for SC vets vary 10x. Some states fully exempt 100%-rated vets, others give nothing.
Home buying
VA home loan + funding fee waiver →
ANY service-connected rating waives the funding fee. On a $400K loan that's ~$8,600 saved.
Draft your Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
Start Your Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) evidence, track your claim status, and prepare for your C&P exam. No coaching fees — just tools.
Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis).
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
More free tools
Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.