Chloracne is a rare skin disease that causes blackheads, cysts, and nodules to erupt on your skin. If you are a veteran experiencing these issues, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits.
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You’ve had severe acne since your military service. You’ve tried all types of over-the-counter products, but nothing seems to work. You keep thinking it will go away, but it hasn’t. You may not realize that the acne may be related to your military service and exposure to toxins, including Agent Orange. In this article, we talk about chloracne, Agent Orange, and the connection between the two.
In this article about chloracne and Agent Orange:
What is chloracne?
Chloracne is a rare skin condition that causes your skin to break out with blackheads, cysts, and nodules.
Other symptoms of chloracne include:
- Excessive oiliness of the skin
- Fluid-filled cysts
- Dark body hair
- Open sores
- Thickened skin
- Skin that flakes or peels
Chloracne typically appears on the face, around the eyes, temples, and ears. In more severe cases, it may affect other parts of the body.
It has been directly linked to exposure to dioxin, a dangerous chemical often found in herbicides and other toxins. For this reason, the skin condition is often the result of military service.
Sometimes, chloracne develops and goes away on its own after the toxic exposure stops. Other times, it can last for years and even result in secondary infections and scarring.
Chloracne and Agent Orange
Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange are prone to developing chloracne as a result of that exposure.
Agent Orange was a carcinogenic chemical the military used to remove leaves from trees and plants in the ‘60s. It was widely used during the Vietnam and Korean wars. Soldiers were also exposed to Agent Orange stored at certain U.S. military bases and on Navy ships and Air Force planes.
Because of this widespread exposure, the VA has established a presumptive service connection for veterans who served during certain times, in specific locations, and have been diagnosed with any of the growing list of conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure. This connection means that veterans who meet these criteria don’t need to show any additional evidence to establish a service connection to their condition.
The VA presumes that chloracne is related to Agent Orange or other herbicide exposure if the condition appears within a year of that exposure and is at least 10% disabling.
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VA rating for chloracne
The VA rates chloracne in the Schedule of Ratings under diagnostic code 7829, depending on the severity of the condition. The rating criteria is as follows:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting 40 percent or more of the face and neck | 30% | $524.31 |
| 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) | 20% | $338.49 |
| 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) | 10% | $171.23 |
| Superficial acne (comedones, papules, pustules) of any extent | 0% | None |
Chloracne can also sometimes be rated as disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800) or scars (DCs 7801, 7802, 7804, or 7805), depending on the veteran’s predominant disability. If two or more codes apply, the VA must assign the diagnostic code that warrants a higher rating.
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D.B.
TDIU for skin conditions like chloracne
In some cases, a veteran may be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for skin conditions like chloracne. Veterans are eligible for this benefit if they can’t maintain substantially gainful employment due to their service-connected conditions.
It’s unlikely that chloracne alone would warrant TDIU. However, it may qualify when combined with other disabilities. For example, some skin conditions may cause psychological concerns. Skin conditions are linked with depression and social isolation. If a veteran has severe scarring from their chloracne, they may not want to go out in public and suffer from isolation as a result.
Additionally, veterans exposed to Agent Orange tend to have higher levels of health issues and are more prone to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These conditions combined may make it impossible to maintain employment.
Veterans who receive TDIU are compensated at the 100% disability rating level even though their condition is rated below 100%.
Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:
- At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
How Woods and Woods can help
If you have a service-connected condition that affects your ability to live and work comfortably, you deserve VA disability compensation. Contact Woods and Woods today for a free consultation to see how we can help. You only pay us if we win.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Chloracne is typically diagnosed through a visual examination and an understanding of a patient’s history. If you think you have chloracne, you’ll want to make sure the examining physician is aware of your military service, including where and when you served.
Yes, the VA has disability ratings for chloracne, and the condition is an Agent Orange presumptive, which means veterans who served in specific locations during certain times don’t need to show any additional evidence to establish a service connection to the condition.
Neil Woods
VA disability lawyer
Woods and Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
