What Is Porphyria Cutanea Tarda?

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT) is a skin disease associated with thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas. The most common symptoms are blisters appearing on sun-exposed skin followed by crusting and scarring, hyperpigmentation, increased hair growth on areas exposed to sun, and liver damage. The development of painful, blistering skin lesions in areas exposed to sun are also common. 

PCT belongs to a group of disorders known as the porphyrias which are caused by abnormally high levels of porphyrins and porphyrin precursors. These abnormally high levels are due to the  deficiency of certain enzymes essential to the creation of heme, a molecule that makes up hemoglobin and other hemoproteins. Most often, the disease is caused by genetic errors, so individuals who develop the disease are already born with it. However, in some cases environmental factors can cause the disease, such as exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange.

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda And Agent Orange

Agent Orange was an herbicide used predominantly during the Vietnam War to clear underbrush from the jungle in preparation for military maneuvers. Veterans who were exposed to this herbicide have been shown to develop a number of different health conditions, including PCT. The VA officially acknowledged that exposure to Agent Orange was one of the leading causes of these various health conditions nearly three decades ago. Since then, the VA has granted presumptive service connection for conditions like PCT to veterans who can prove they served in an area of presumptive exposure in service. 

How The VA Rates PCT

Under 38 CFR § 4.118, the VA evaluates PCT under Diagnostic Code 7815 for bullous disorders. For the disorders included under DC 7815, the VA uses the General Rating Formula for the Skin to determine a schedular disability rating:

  • 60 – 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
  • 30 – 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
  • 10 – 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
  • 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
  • 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. This rating instruction does not apply to DC 7824

Help With Your PCT VA Disability Claim

If you are a veteran struggling with PCT and are looking for assistance with your VA claim, our team of experienced veterans disability attorneys are ready to help. Please contact our office today to receive a free claim evaluation. We are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve for your service-connected PCT.