Scars are the most under-claimed rating in the schedule. Veterans who have been service connected for a knee, shoulder, or abdominal condition for years often have surgical scars that were never separately evaluated, and burn or laceration scars from service frequently go unmentioned because they seem cosmetic.
The scar codes do not require a scar to be ugly. Two of them turn entirely on measurements, and one turns on whether the scar hurts.
The five scar codes
38 CFR 4.118 sets out five scar codes, and which one applies depends on where the scar is, how big it is, and how it behaves:
- DC 7800 - burn scars, other scars, or disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, rated on the number of characteristics of disfigurement and on visible tissue loss or distortion of features
- DC 7801 - burn scars or other scars that are deep and nonlinear, rated by total area, starting at 10 percent for at least 6 square inches
- DC 7802 - burn scars or other scars that are superficial and nonlinear, rated at 10 percent when the area totals 144 square inches or greater
- DC 7804 - scars that are unstable or painful, rated at 10, 20, or 30 percent by count
- DC 7805 - any other scars, and any other disabling effects of scars not addressed by the codes above, rated under an appropriate code
Deep versus superficial
The distinction drives which code applies. A deep scar is associated with underlying soft tissue damage; a superficial scar is not. Deep scars reach a compensable level at a far smaller area than superficial ones, which is why the examiner's characterization of depth matters as much as the tape measure.
Nonlinear means the scar has area rather than being a simple line. Linear scars are generally evaluated under DC 7804 if they are painful or unstable, or under DC 7805 if they cause some other disabling effect.
The painful scar rule
Diagnostic Code 7804 is the code most veterans qualify under without knowing it. It does not measure area at all. It asks whether the scar is unstable, meaning there is frequent loss of skin covering over the scar, or painful, and then counts how many scars meet that description: one or two for 10 percent, three or four for 20 percent, and five or more for 30 percent.
Pain has to be documented. If a surgical scar is tender to touch, catches on clothing, or aches in cold weather, that belongs in a treatment note and on the Scars Disability Benefits Questionnaire, not only in your memory of the exam.
Where veterans start
Every case is different, and there is no obligation at any step. When veterans want to understand what their records actually support, these are the two most common starting points:
- Medical records review
A licensed physician reviews your records for a $250 flat fee and identifies which conditions the available evidence may support. The fee is refunded in full if nothing supportable is identified.
- Nexus letter
When the records support one, a licensed provider writes the medical opinion that addresses the link between your condition and your service or an already service-connected disability.
Head, face, and neck scars
DC 7800 uses eight listed characteristics of disfigurement, including length of five inches or more, width of at least one-quarter inch at the widest point, elevated or depressed surface contour, adherence to underlying tissue, hypo- or hyper-pigmented skin over an area exceeding six square inches, abnormal skin texture over that same area, missing underlying soft tissue over that area, and indurated and inflexible skin over that area.
The rating rises with the number of characteristics present and with visible tissue loss or distortion of one or more features such as the nose, chin, forehead, eyes, ears, cheeks, or lips. Because the code counts specific measurements, precise documentation at the exam is what determines the outcome.
Separate ratings and pyramiding
Scars are frequently rated in addition to the underlying condition. A veteran service connected for a knee replacement can also hold a rating for a painful surgical scar, because the scar's disabling effect is distinct from the joint's.
The limit is 38 CFR 4.14, which prohibits rating the same disabling effect twice under different codes. Loss of motion caused by a scar contracture, for example, is rated once, not both as a scar effect under DC 7805 and again as limitation of motion. Separate ratings are then added under the combined ratings table in 38 CFR 4.25 rather than by simple addition.
Claiming scars you already have
If you are already service connected for a condition that involved surgery, an open wound, a burn, or a laceration, the residual scar is worth raising. Gather operative reports, count the scars, note which are tender, and photograph them with a ruler in frame.
Our skin C&P exam guide covers what the scar examination records, and the evidence guide covers what to bring. For the underlying claims themselves, see the knee and back series.
Frequently asked questions
What is the VA disability rating for scars?
Scars are rated under Diagnostic Codes 7800 through 7805 in 38 CFR 4.118. Ratings depend on the location, the measured area, whether the scar is deep or superficial, and whether it is painful or unstable. Painful or unstable scars are rated at 10, 20, or 30 percent based on how many qualify.
Can I get a rating for a surgical scar?
Yes, when the surgery itself is connected to service. A scar left by surgery for a service-connected condition is a residual of that condition and can be rated separately, provided it meets the criteria of one of the scar codes and the rating does not duplicate compensation already paid for the same disabling effect.
How many painful scars do I need for a 20 percent rating?
Under Diagnostic Code 7804, one or two scars that are unstable or painful support 10 percent, three or four support 20 percent, and five or more support 30 percent. A scar that is both unstable and painful is counted with an additional increase under that code.