The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend the portion of the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD or Rating Schedule) that addresses skin conditions.  The purpose of these changes is to incorporate medical advances that have occurred since the last review, update current medical terminology, and provide clear evaluation criteria.  The proposed rule reflects advances in medical knowledge, recommendations from the Skin Disorders Work Group (Work Group), which is comprised of subject matter experts from both the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration, and comments from experts and the public gathered as part of a public forum.  The public forum, focusing on revisions to the skin conditions section of the VASRD, was held in January 2012.