EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Chloracne (Agent Orange Presumptive)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.118 (Skin) · reviewed 2026-05-27 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Chloracne (Agent Orange Presumptive) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7829 of 38 CFR § 4.118, DC 7829 across 4 severity tiers (30% / 20% / 10% / 0%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Skin condition directly caused by exposure to dioxin-containing chemicals like Agent Orange. Characterized by cysts, comedones (blackheads), and pustules, primarily on the face. Must have manifested within one year of exposure.
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
30%
Per § 4.118 DC 7829 verbatim: "Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting 40 percent or more of the face and neck."
20%
Per § 4.118 DC 7829 verbatim: "Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting the intertriginous areas (the axilla of the arm, the anogenital region, skin folds of the breasts, or between digits)."
10%
Per § 4.118 DC 7829 verbatim: "Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting less than 40 percent of the face and neck; or deep acne affecting non-intertriginous areas of the body (other than the face and neck)."
0%
Per § 4.118 DC 7829 verbatim: "Superficial acne (comedones, papules, pustules) of any extent." Or rate as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800) or scars (DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805), depending upon the predominant disability.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.118 (Skin). Source verified 2026-05-27 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026