Severe Acne — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Severe Acne
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 Severe Acne — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Severe Acne, 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 Severe Acne
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7828 (acne). Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Superficial acne (comedones, papules, pustules) of any extent.
Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting less than 40 percent of the face and neck; or deep acne on areas other than the face and neck.
Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting 40 percent or more of the face and neck. May alternatively be rated as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800) or as scars, whichever is predominant.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Severe Acne 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 Severe Acne 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.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2016 · PMID 26210237
Finding: This systematic review of cutaneous effects of mass organochlorine exposures in military and industrial settings concludes that chloracne (a severe acneform eruption) has an established association with Agent Orange/dioxin exposure, and that veterans with a new diagnosis of chloracne should be screened for Vietnam service and referred to the Department of Veterans Affairs for disability assessment.
Why it helps: Supports a service-connection association between Agent Orange/organochlorine exposure and chloracne, and explicitly identifies chloracne as a condition with an established link warranting VA disability evaluation.
- Chloracne (StatPearls)Direct
StatPearls, 2026 · PMID 29083575
Finding: Chloracne is an acneform eruption caused by exposure to halogenated aromatic compounds, with dioxin as the most notable environmental cause; Agent Orange contained trace dioxin. Lesions include cysts, nodules, pustules, and comedones, and severity follows a dose-response relationship, with high-level exposure potentially causing multisystem (eye, liver, endocrine, nervous) involvement.
Why it helps: Provides clinical background supporting that severe acne (chloracne) is a recognized consequence of dioxin/Agent Orange exposure, with severity tied to exposure dose.
Toxicology Letters, 2014 · PMID 24239782
Finding: In humans, exposure to dioxins, particularly 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)—the contaminant in Agent Orange—induces the cutaneous syndrome chloracne, consisting of numerous small skin lesions that can last 2 to 5 years.
Why it helps: Supports a biological mechanism linking the dioxin component of Agent Orange to chloracne, and documents that the resulting skin disease can persist for years.
Archives of Environmental Health, 1998 · PMID 9814716
Finding: In this study of Operation Ranch Hand veterans (the Air Force unit that sprayed herbicides in Vietnam), no Ranch Hand veteran was diagnosed with chloracne and no consistent association was found between serum dioxin and current acne; the authors suggested exposure may have been insufficient to produce chloracne, or that earlier chloracne had resolved and become undetectable.
Why it helps: Provides honest nuance: chloracne's link to dioxin is dose-dependent and may resolve over time, so a present-day exam can be negative even where exposure occurred—context that helps frame the dose-response and timing of a chloracne claim rather than supporting it.
Dermatology Online Journal, 2011 · nexus to depression, anxiety, mental health disorders · PMID 21272492
Finding: This review of 16 studies found that the presence of acne has a significant impact on self-esteem and quality of life, and that depression and other psychological disorders are more prevalent in acne patients, with acne treatment potentially improving these symptoms.
Why it helps: Supports an association between acne and secondary mental-health conditions such as depression and anxiety, relevant to claims for psychological conditions secondary to severe acne.
- Acne vulgaris—psychosomatic aspectsSecondary
Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft, 2006 · nexus to depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation · PMID 17176410
Finding: Acne can produce anxiety, depression, and other psychological problems affecting patients' lives in ways comparable to life-threatening or disabling diseases; even mild to moderate acne can be associated with significant depression and suicidal ideation, and psychological impact does not necessarily correlate with disease severity.
Why it helps: Supports an association between acne and secondary psychiatric conditions (depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation), reinforcing that mental-health impact can be substantial and is not limited to the most severe skin findings.
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 Severe Acne
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Severe Acne. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Related Guides
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Draft your Severe Acne 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 Severe Acne VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Severe Acne 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 Severe Acne.
Severe Acne Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
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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.