If you’re a veteran experiencing recurring and disruptive hives, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits.
The VA rates chronic urticaria under its Schedule of Ratings for skin conditions, and your rating depends on how often your symptoms occur and how well they respond to treatment. Understanding the urticaria VA rating can help you build a stronger claim and ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to.
Key Takeaways
- Environmental hazards make veterans more at risk of service-connected skin issues, including urticaria.
- A chronic urticaria VA rating can be 10%, 30%, or 60%, depending on symptoms and necessary treatment.
- Chronic stress, which many veterans face, can worsen urticaria.
Don’t fight the VA alone
In this article about the chronic urticaria VA rating:
What is urticaria?
Urticaria, also called “chronic hives,” is a skin condition where you have red, itchy, raised bumps. These hives can occur anywhere on your body. They can also change locations, disappear, and later return.
Symptoms of urticaria include:
- Itching, which can be intense
- Swelling, sometimes even of the lips, eyes, or throat, like an allergic reaction
- Flare-ups that may get worse in times of stress or if you scratch
Chronic urticaria means you have hive flare-ups at least twice a week for more than six weeks, and they seem resistant to treatment, like anti-inflammatories or steroids.
Chronic urticaria in veterans
Veterans may be more susceptible to developing skin conditions because of exposure to environmental hazards. These environmental exposures may be one pathway to service connection for your urticaria.
Research has also suggested chronic stress can make urticaria worse. Veterans are more prone than the civilian population to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which has been linked to chronic urticaria.
Chronic urticaria VA rating
The VA rates chronic urticaria under diagnostic code 7825. Ratings are based on what type of treatment is necessary to get the condition under control, and the criteria is as follows:
For rating purposes, the VA defines chronic urticaria as “continuous urticaria at least twice per week, off treatment, for a period of six weeks or more.”
VA disability for urticaria and related conditions
The exact cause of chronic urticaria is unknown, but research has suggested there may be a strong association between the condition and thyroid issues, diabetes, and other autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, and lupus. Urticaria is also frequently found in individuals with chronic stress and may be a comorbidity in some veterans with PTSD.
If you have one of these conditions and develop ongoing hives, it’s worth considering whether the two health issues may be related. If one service-connected condition causes or worsens another, you could qualify for additional disability benefits.
Building your chronic urticaria claim
If you developed chronic urticaria during your military service, or if your condition worsened as a result of service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Building a strong claim starts with clearly documenting the severity, frequency, and impact of your symptoms.
The VA rates chronic urticaria based on how often flare-ups occur and what kind of treatment you must have to manage them. To qualify for a higher rating, you’ll need to demonstrate that your condition persists despite lower levels of treatment, like continuous use of antihistamines or immunosuppressive therapy.
Strong claims typically include:
- A current medical diagnosis of chronic urticaria
- Service records or medical documentation linking the condition to your time in the military
- Evidence of ongoing treatment (such as prescriptions and doctor visits)
In some cases, a claim may also include lay statements from people who know you and can speak to how the condition affects your life.
As with all VA claims, the more thorough your documentation and supporting evidence, the better.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can get a VA disability rating for chronic urticaria if you can connect the development or worsening of the condition with your military service, or you can show that it’s related to another service-connected condition.
Chronic urticaria is defined as “continuous urticaria at least twice per week, off treatment, for a period of six weeks or more” for the purposes of a VA disability rating. It can be rated at 60%, 30%, or 10%. The rating you receive is based on what type of treatment is necessary to get the condition under control.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
