Urticaria VA Rating: How the VA Rates Chronic Hives

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If itchy, red welts are keeping you up at night (sometimes literally) and don’t seem to stay away for long, here’s some good news — it’s possible to get a chronic urticaria VA rating.  

Skin conditions such as chronic urticaria, also known as chronic hives, can be connected to your military service, and if you can prove it, the VA will compensate you. 

Continue reading for more information about chronic urticaria, including how the VA rates the condition and how it may be connected to your service.

Summary of Key Points

• The urticaria VA rating is listed under DC  7825, chronic urticaria, with potential ratings of 10%, 30%, and 60%. 

• Chronic urticaria can be service-connected directly or as a secondary condition to an already service-connected condition. 

• There is no exact cause for chronic urticaria, but it is closely associated with autoimmune conditions, asthma, and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

What is Urticaria?

Urticaria, more commonly known as hives, is a skin reaction that starts with itchy red spots. Those red spots swell into welts that, when chronic, can last up to six weeks and recur over months or years. 

The cause of urticaria isn’t known, but the symptoms can be tamed with the use of antihistamines. 

Symptoms

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of chronic hives include: 

• Batches of welts, called wheals, that can form anywhere on the body

• Welts that might be red, purple, or skin-colored — depending on skin tone

• Welts that vary in size, change shape, and appear and fade repeatedly

• Intense itchiness (pruritus)

• Painful swelling (angioedema) around the eyes, cheeks, or lips

• Flares triggered by heat, exercise, or stress

• Symptoms that persist for more than six weeks and recur often and anytime, sometimes for months or years

Looking for information about other skin conditions rated by the VA? Check out VA Disability Rating for Skin Conditions [The Ultimate Guide] 

Chronic Urticaria VA Ratings

The chronic urticaria VA rating falls under § 4.118 Schedule of Ratings for skin, diagnostic code 7825. Depending on the type of treatment administered and how the condition responds to treatment, the VA urticaria rating can be either 10%, 30%, or 60%.  

The VA defines chronic urticaria as “continuous urticaria at least twice per week, off treatment, for a period of six weeks or more.” 

DC 7825 Chronic urticaria

Description of Symptoms	Urticaria VA Rating %
Chronic refractory urticaria that requires third-line treatment for control (e.g., plasmapheresis, immunotherapy, immunosuppressives) due to ineffectiveness with first- and second-line treatments	60%
Chronic urticaria that requires second-line treatment (e.g., corticosteroids, sympathomimetics, leukotriene inhibitors, neutrophil inhibitors, thyroid hormone) for control	30%
Chronic urticaria that requires first-line treatment (antihistamines) for control	10%

Source: Code of Federal Regulations / Schedule of Disability Ratings 

How to Prove Service Connection

There are two main paths to service connecting chronic urticaria: direct service connection and secondary service connection. 

Direct service connection

To establish a direct service connection, you need: 

• A current diagnosis of chronic urticaria, and 

• An in-service event or exposure that caused or aggravated the condition, and 

• A nexus linking your chronic urticaria to military service. 

Common in-service risk factors include: 

• Exposure to extreme weather conditions 

• Grooming and hygiene standards/access 

• Stress 

• Occupational exposure 

Secondary service connection

While the exact cause of chronic urticaria isn’t known, research has shown its connection to autoimmune conditions, asthma, liver disease, lymphomas, and stress/PTSD. 

To establish a secondary service connection for chronic urticaria, veterans need to demonstrate that their condition is caused or aggravated by another service-connected condition. 

Related: Can You File a VA Claim for Secondary Conditions to Secondary Conditions? 

Conclusion

Chronic urticaria can impact your quality of life. If you’ve got a current diagnosis and can prove that it’s connected to your time in service—either directly or as a secondary condition—you’re eligible for compensation from the VA. The VA rating for chronic urticaria is 10%, 30%, or 60%, which can be significant when combined with other conditions or claims. 

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About the Author – Katie McCarthy

Katie McCarthy is a writer and editor with experience in daily news and digital and print magazine publishing. She honed her editorial (and firearms) skills at Guns & Ammo before helping launch Black Rifle Coffee Company’s Coffee or Die Magazine as the managing editor. She holds degrees in English (BA) and public administration (MPA). Katie is a military spouse and word nerd who enjoys reading, hiking, camping, gardening, and spending time with her family.