VA Rating for Scars and Disfigurement (DC 7800–7805)

Complete VA scar rating table (DC 7800–7805)

The table below lists every rating percentage and criterion for scars and disfigurement under current 38 CFR 4.118.

Under the veteran-alone compensation schedule effective 2025-12-01, 10% pays $180.42 per month, 20% pays $356.66, 30% pays $552.47, 40% pays $795.84, 50% pays $1,132.90, and 80% pays $2,102.15.

Head, face, and neck scars and disfigurement (DC 7800)

Scars on the head, face, or neck—from burns, trauma, lacerations, acne or chloracne, or surgery—are rated under Diagnostic Code 7800 at 10%, 30%, 50%, or 80% through two pathways:

1. Characteristics of disfigurement (10% to 80%): Count of the eight objective characteristics in Note (1) across all service-connected head, face, and neck scars.
2. Tissue loss with gross distortion or asymmetry (30% to 80%): Visible or palpable tissue loss combined with gross distortion or asymmetry of specific facial features.

The 8 characteristics of disfigurement (Note 1 to DC 7800)

Under Note (1) to DC 7800, adjudicators count how many of these eight characteristics are present:

1. Length: Scar 5 or more inches (13 or more cm.) long.
2. Width: Scar at least one-quarter inch (0.6 cm.) wide at widest part.
3. Surface contour: Surface contour elevated or depressed on palpation.
4. Adherence: Scar adherent to underlying tissue.
5. Pigmentation: Skin hypo- or hyper-pigmented exceeding 6 sq. in. (39 sq. cm.).
6. Texture: Skin texture abnormal (irregular, atrophic, shiny, scaly) exceeding 6 sq. in. (39 sq. cm.).
7. Missing soft tissue: Underlying soft tissue missing exceeding 6 sq. in. (39 sq. cm.).
8. Induration and inflexibility: Skin indurated and inflexible exceeding 6 sq. in. (39 sq. cm.).

The VA awards 10% for 1 characteristic, 30% for 2 or 3, 50% for 4 or 5, and 80% for 6 or more. Under Note (5) to DC 7800, characteristics may come from one scar or multiple scars on the head, face, or neck. A single neck scar that is 0.6 cm wide (#2) and depressed on palpation (#3) satisfies two characteristics and warrants 30%.

Distortion or asymmetry of facial features and Notes 2–4

DC 7800 also awards 30% (1 feature or paired set), 50% (2 features or paired sets), or 80% (3 or more features or paired sets) when visible or palpable tissue loss is accompanied by gross distortion or asymmetry of the nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, or lips.

• Note (2): Tissue loss of the auricle is rated under DC 6207 and anatomical loss of one or both eyes under DC 6063 or DC 6061.
• Note (3): Adjudicators consider unretouched color photographs under DC 7800.
• Note (4): Disabling effects other than disfigurement—such as pain, instability (DC 7804), or muscle or cranial nerve injury—are rated separately and combined under 38 CFR 4.25.

Trunk and extremity scars (DC 7801 and DC 7802) and the 2018 revision

Scars outside the head, face, and neck are rated by surface area and depth under DC 7801 or DC 7802:

• DC 7801 (With underlying soft tissue damage): Deep burns and deep scars affecting subcutaneous fat, fascia, or muscle. Rated at 10% for at least 6 sq. in. (39 sq. cm.), 20% for at least 12 sq. in. (77 sq. cm.), 30% for at least 72 sq. in. (465 sq. cm.), and 40% for 144 sq. in. (929 sq. cm.) or greater.
• DC 7802 (Without underlying soft tissue damage): Superficial scars. Warrants 10% when total area is 144 sq. in. (929 sq. cm.) or greater; smaller superficial scars receive 0% under DC 7802 unless painful or unstable under DC 7804.

What changed on August 13, 2018 (83 FR 32592)

Effective August 13, 2018 (83 FR 32592), the VA updated DCs 7801 and 7802 in three ways:

1. Removed the “nonlinear” requirement: Linear surgical and traumatic scars (length multiplied by width at widest points) now count toward DC 7801 and DC 7802 surface area thresholds.
2. Defined the 6 zones of the body (Note 1): Right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, left lower extremity, anterior trunk, and posterior trunk (divided by the midaxillary line).
3. Separate zone ratings vs. combined area across zones (Note 2): When scars affect multiple zones, the VA may assign a separate rating per zone and combine them under § 4.25, or, if adding areas across zones yields a higher single evaluation, assign one combined-area rating.

Painful or unstable scars (DC 7804) and the +10% rule

Under Diagnostic Code 7804 (“Scar(s), unstable or painful”), any service-connected scar anywhere on the body—superficial or deep, linear or nonlinear—is rated by the total count of unstable or painful scars:

• 10% rating: 1 or 2 unstable or painful scars.
• 20% rating: 3 or 4 unstable or painful scars.
• 30% rating: 5 or more unstable or painful scars.

Under Note (1), an unstable scar is one where, for any reason, there is frequent loss of covering of skin over the scar (such as recurrent blistering, ulceration, or skin breakdown). Under Note (2), if one or more scars are both unstable and painful, the VA adds 10% to the evaluation (making 1–2 scars 20%, 3–4 scars 30%, and 5 or more scars 40%). Under Note (3), scars rated under DCs 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7805 may also receive a separate rating under DC 7804 when painful or unstable, notwithstanding the general skin anti-pyramiding rule in 38 CFR 4.118(b).

On September 29, 2025, the VA published a proposed rule (90 FR 46542, RIN 2900-AS37) to add a note clarifying that pain under DC 7804 requires objective evidence upon evaluation or demonstration (such as palpation tenderness). While unfinalized, examiners already test tenderness to palpation during C&P exams.

Functional impairment (DC 7805) and the Scars/Disfigurement DBQ

Diagnostic Code 7805 directs the VA to rate any disabling effect not captured under DCs 7800–7804 under the appropriate diagnostic code, including burn contractures restricting joint motion (38 CFR 4.71a), deep muscle damage (38 CFR 4.73), and surgical or traumatic nerve entrapment rated as peripheral neuropathy under 38 CFR 4.124a.

During a C&P exam, the clinician completes the Scars/Disfigurement Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):

• Centimeter measurements: Every scar’s length and width at its widest points are measured in centimeters (cm), and total area is summarized by body zone in square centimeters (cm²) (39 cm² = 6 sq. in., 77 cm² = 12 sq. in., 465 cm² = 72 sq. in., 929 cm² = 144 sq. in.).
• Palpation and inspection: The examiner palpates each scar to record objective tenderness (pain), skin breakdown (instability), underlying soft tissue damage, and burn depth.
• Head, face, and neck checklist: Records each of the 8 characteristics of disfigurement (including area in cm² for pigmentation, texture, missing soft tissue, and induration) and checks any distortion or asymmetry across the 7 facial features.

Secondary conditions, combined ratings, and accredited help

Under 38 CFR 3.310(a), surgical scars from operations to treat a service-connected disability (such as joint replacement, arthroscopy, spinal fusion, or cancer excision) qualify for secondary service connection; even a small surgical scar that remains tender to palpation warrants 10% under DC 7804. Conversely, severe facial disfigurement or extensive burn scarring that causes chronic distress or social withdrawal may support a secondary mental disorder claim under 38 CFR 4.130 (see our PTSD and mental health ratings guide) when supported by a medical nexus opinion.

Multiple ratings—such as DC 7800 or DC 7801 stacked with DC 7804 and orthopedic ratings—combine under 38 CFR 4.25, which you can calculate with our VA combined rating calculator. When compensable disabilities affect paired extremities (such as DC 7801 or DC 7805 ratings on both legs or both arms), the 10% bilateral factor under 38 CFR 4.26 applies.

If your scar claim was denied or underrated, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) such as the DAV, VFW, and American Legion provide free assistance, and VA-accredited claims agents or attorneys represent veterans on appeal. No representative can guarantee an outcome; verify accreditation through the VA Office of General Counsel Accreditation Search.