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Dermatophytosis (Tinea / Ringworm)

A fungal skin infection that includes athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), jock itch (tinea cruris), ringworm (tinea corporis), scalp fungus (tinea capitis), and nail fungus (tinea unguium / onychomycosis). DC 7813 names all of these by name, so this is a listed condition, not an analogy. It is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for the Skin, which rates on the percentage of your body or exposed areas covered by characteristic lesions OR the duration of systemic therapy required over the past 12-month period — whichever gives the higher level — and tops out at 60 percent. The formula also allows rating instead as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800) or as scars (DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805) when that is the predominant disability.

Code: 7813
Criteria: 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7813
Exam length: ~30 minutes
Form: Skin Diseases DBQ

Rating steps

The percentages this diagnostic code can be rated at. Which one applies depends on the findings — no tool here can tell you in advance.

What happens at the appointment

The examiner will inspect your skin for active fungal infection — ring-shaped rashes, scaling, cracking, or nail changes.
They will measure the total body surface area affected and note which body parts are involved (feet, groin, body, scalp, nails).
You will be asked about your treatment: topical antifungals, oral antifungals (terbinafine, fluconazole), and how often the infection recurs.
The examiner will check your nails if you have nail fungus (onychomycosis) — thickened, discolored, or crumbling nails.
You will be asked how the infection affects your daily life, work, and activities.

What the examiner is actually filling in

01Percentage of total body surface area affected by fungal infection.
02Percentage of exposed areas affected.
03Whether treatment has required topical therapy only, systemic (oral) therapy, or constant systemic therapy.
04Duration and frequency of oral antifungal treatment in the past 12 months.
05Whether the condition is recurrent despite treatment.

Rated under 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7813. The examiner records findings on the DBQ; a rating specialist makes the decision.

A complete answer sounds like

Show the examiner all affected areas, including between your toes, your groin, and your nails.
If you have taken oral antifungals, emphasize the duration — 6 or more weeks per year of systemic therapy pushes toward a 30% rating.
Describe the cycle of recurrence: "It clears with medication but comes back within 2-3 months every time."
If nail involvement makes it hard to wear shoes, grip objects, or walk comfortably, explain how.
Bring photos taken during the worst flare-ups if the infection happens to be mild on exam day.

What costs veterans points

Not mentioning that the infection is recurrent. A single episode rated as resolved will not get a compensable rating.
Trimming or treating nails right before the exam so they look better than usual.
Not reporting oral antifungal use. Oral systemic therapy elevates the rating compared to topical-only treatment.
Forgetting to show the examiner all affected areas — between toes, groin folds, under nails, and body.

The rating criteria, in plain language

Rating levels for Dermatophytosis (Tinea / Ringworm) under 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7813
Rating	Rating criteria	What that means for you
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.	No more than topical therapy over the past 12-month period, and characteristic lesions cover less than 5 percent of your entire body or less than 5 percent of exposed areas. Over-the-counter and prescription antifungal creams are topical therapy. DC 7813 is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for the Skin, and that formula prints this 0 percent level directly: no monthly payment, but the condition is on record and a later increase runs from it. The lowest compensable level under this formula is 10 percent.
0%	What supports this level Characteristic lesions measured at less than 5 percent of the entire body affected Less than 5 percent of exposed areas affected Topical antifungal treatment only over the past 12-month period, with no oral antifungals or other systemic therapy Dermatophytosis diagnosis confirmed, with KOH prep or fungal culture results if available A dated record of the condition so that a later increase claim has a starting point
10%	Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. 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.	Characteristic lesions cover at least 5 percent but less than 20 percent of your entire body, or at least 5 percent but less than 20 percent of exposed areas, or you needed intermittent systemic therapy — oral antifungals count — for a total of less than 6 weeks over the past 12-month period. Any one of these on its own is enough.
10%	What supports this level Body surface area measured at 5 percent to less than 20 percent of the entire body affected 5 percent to less than 20 percent of exposed areas affected Treatment records adding up to a total of less than 6 weeks of oral antifungal or other systemic therapy over the past 12-month period Prescription records for oral terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole, or griseofulvin with start and stop dates Dated photographs of the affected areas
30%	Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. 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.	Characteristic lesions cover 20 to 40 percent of your entire body or 20 to 40 percent of exposed areas, or you needed systemic therapy for a total of 6 weeks or more, but not constantly, over the past 12-month period. Either one on its own is enough. Note that 40 percent exactly falls in this band; the 60 percent level asks for MORE than 40 percent.
30%	What supports this level Body surface area measured at 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or of exposed areas affected Treatment records adding up to a total of 6 weeks or more of oral antifungal or other systemic therapy over the past 12-month period, but not constant Prescription records for oral terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole, or griseofulvin with start and stop dates Dermatology or primary care notes documenting the course of therapy Documentation of each affected site — feet, groin, body, scalp, beard area, nails — so the total measured area is complete
60%	Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for the Skin. 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.	Characteristic lesions cover more than 40 percent of your entire body or more than 40 percent of exposed areas, or you needed constant or near-constant systemic therapy over the past 12-month period. This is the highest level the General Rating Formula for the Skin provides.
60%	What supports this level Body surface area measured at more than 40 percent of the entire body, or more than 40 percent of exposed areas affected Records showing constant or near-constant systemic therapy across the past 12-month period Continuous oral antifungal prescription history with no meaningful gap Treatment notes describing the therapy as ongoing rather than intermittent

The middle column is our transcription of the criteria at 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7813, condensed for reading. Read the section itself on eCFR before relying on the exact wording. The items under each level are the kinds of evidence that document it — not a VA checklist, and not a prediction of which level applies to you.

Mistakes we see most often

Not documenting all affected areas — tinea can affect feet, groin, body, scalp, and nails simultaneously. Make sure the examiner checks and documents every area.

Not realizing oral antifungal pills count as systemic therapy — drugs like terbinafine (Lamisil) or fluconazole taken by mouth are systemic therapy. Over-the-counter creams are not.

Failing to connect to military service — fungal infections commonly develop from communal showers, shared barracks, tropical deployments, or prolonged boot wear. Document the in-service connection.

Not claiming nail fungus separately — onychomycosis (toenail/fingernail fungus) may be documented as part of dermatophytosis and adds to total body surface area affected.

Before & after your exam

These apply to every C&P exam, whatever the condition.

Do not miss the appointment: Missing your C&P exam without a good reason can cost you. Under 38 CFR § 3.655, a missed exam can cause a claim for an increased rating or a reopened claim to be denied, and can cause an original claim to be decided on the evidence already in your file. If you cannot make it, call the VA or the exam company right away to reschedule — a documented good reason (illness, work conflict, no transportation, a family emergency) protects your claim.
Your examiner may be a contractor: Many C&P exams are performed by VA-contracted companies — QTC, Optum Serve (LHI), VES, or MSLA — not at a VA hospital. They will call, text, or mail you to schedule. Do not ignore an unknown number or letter while your claim is pending, and confirm the exam location and time before you go.
The examiner does not decide your claim: The examiner's job is to record findings on the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ). A rating specialist at the Regional Office makes the actual decision, using the exam together with your full record — service records, medical records, and lay statements. One appointment does not settle everything.
Get a copy of your exam report: After the exam you can request the report (often called the DBQ or C&P exam results) through VA.gov, the Blue Button tool, or your accredited representative. Reading it lets you catch errors while you still have time to respond.
If the exam was inadequate, you have options: If the examiner rushed you, evaluated the wrong condition, or the report is inaccurate, you can submit a statement and new evidence, and — after a decision — request a review (a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review). A single bad exam is not the end of your claim.

View condition guide →View evidence checklist →

Folder readiness

Tick these off as you gather them. Nothing here is required — the exam happens either way — but each one is something the examiner cannot record if it is not in front of them.

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Take it with you

Print the whole guide — what the examiner records, the folder list with your ticks, the criteria table and the mistakes to avoid — and bring it to the appointment.

Frequently paired

Documented secondary or co-occurring conditions. Each is examined separately and has its own guide.

Free tool · 282 guides · DBQ-aligned

C&P Exam Preparation Guides

The VA orders this exam to verify your diagnosis and measure how severe it is right now. It can shape your rating and your monthly compensation — but it does not decide your claim. A rating specialist weighs it against your full record, and if the exam does not reflect your condition, you can say so and ask the VA to correct it.

Source forms
Coverage

Dermatophytosis (Tinea / Ringworm)

Rating steps

What happens at the appointment

What the examiner is actually filling in

A complete answer sounds like

What costs veterans points

The rating criteria, in plain language

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

Mistakes we see most often

Before & after your exam

Dermatophytosis (Tinea / Ringworm)

Rating steps

What happens at the appointment

What the examiner is actually filling in

A complete answer sounds like

What costs veterans points

The rating criteria, in plain language

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

Mistakes we see most often

Before & after your exam