If you have physical scars from your military service, you may be able to receive VA disability compensation. Read this post to better understand the VA rating for scars and whether you qualify for these benefits.
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You have plenty of emotional reminders of your military service. You may also have physical reminders. Some scars are barely noticeable, while others may cause pain and discomfort. But did you know that physical scars are one of the most common VA disability claims? This post explains more about the VA rating for scars.
In this article about the VA rating for scars:
Veterans and scarring
Almost a million veterans receiving VA disability have physical scars, according to the VA’s 2022 Annual Benefits Report. The magnitude of the issue makes scarring the seventh most common VA disability claim.
Veterans may develop scars from burns or other injuries like cuts and scrapes during service. Accidents and incidents in both training and combat can cause scarring to varying degrees of severity anywhere on the body. Veterans may also become scarred due to surgeries for other service-connected conditions.
If scars develop during military service or as a result of it, veterans can qualify for VA disability compensation for scarring, depending on the severity and location of the scars. We explain more about how this works below.
VA rating for scars
Understanding the VA rating for scars can be difficult, given the multiple diagnostic codes that can be used and the many notes each code includes.
The VA rates scars under diagnostic codes 7800-7805 in the Schedule of Ratings for skin conditions. Ratings may be granted between 10% to 80%, depending on the scar’s qualities, “stability,” location, pain, and size, which we will explain below.
A veteran may receive multiple ratings if they have more than one scar, especially if scarring is in different areas of the body.
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Diagnostic code 7800 is used for scars or disfigurement of the head, face, or neck. An evaluation is made based on tissue loss and distortion in the eyes/eyelids, nose, ears, mouth, forehead, chin, or cheeks.
This code can also rate based on the specific “characteristics of disfigurement” caused by the scarring. How many of these characteristics you meet can affect your rating.
The eight characteristics of disfigurement for VA scar ratings are:
- Scar five or more inches (13 or more cm.) in length
- Scar at least one-quarter inch (0.6 cm.) wide at the widest part
- Surface contour of the scar elevated or depressed on palpation
- Scar adherent to underlying tissue
- Skin hypo-or hyper-pigmented in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.)
- Skin texture irregular, atrophic, shiny, or scaly, etc. in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.)
- Underlying soft tissue missing in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.)
- Skin indurated and inflexible in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.)
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| 7800 Burn scar(s) of the head, face, or neck; scar(s) of the head, face, or neck due to other causes; or other disfigurement of the head, face, or neck: | ||
| With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with six or more characteristics of disfigurement | 80% | $1,995.01 |
| With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with four or five characteristics of disfigurement | 50% | $1,075.16 |
| With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with two or three characteristics of disfigurement | 30% | $524.31 |
| With one characteristic of disfigurement | 10% | $171.23 |
Scars rated using diagnostic codes 7801 or 7802 consider the size and location of the scar. If your scars have caused soft tissue damage, you’ll likely be rated under diagnostic code 7800 instead.
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| 7801 Burn scar(s) or scar(s) due to other causes, not of the head, face, or neck, that are associated with underlying soft tissue damage: | ||
| Area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater | 40% | $755.28 |
| Area or areas of at least 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.) but less than 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) | 30% | $524.31 |
| Area or areas of at least 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.) but less than 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.) | 20% | $338.49 |
| Area or areas of at least 6 square inches (39 sq. cm.) but less than 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.) | 10% | $171.23 |
| 7802 Burn scar(s) or scar(s) due to other causes, not of the head, face, or neck, that are not associated with underlying soft tissue damage: | ||
| Area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater | 10% | $171.23 |
Multiple ratings may be awarded under codes 7801 and 7802 depending on how many zones of the body are affected. In this case, zones of the body refers to each arm and leg, the upper portions of the “trunk” (back and chest), and the lower portions of the trunk. Therefore, a veteran with a scar on one leg from a training accident and one on their stomach from a bullet wound could receive two ratings for the two affected zones.
Diagnostic code 7804 is for scars that cause pain and are unstable. “Unstable” scars are those that frequently lose the skin over them for any reason.
| 7804 Scar(s), unstable or painful: | ||
| Five or more scars that are unstable or painful | 30% | $524.31 |
| Three or four scars that are unstable or painful | 20% | $338.49 |
| One or two scars that are unstable or painful | 10% | $171.23 |
Finally, diagnostic code 7805 calls for any disabling effect of a scar that is not listed in the rating criteria of codes 7800-7804 to be rated under an appropriate diagnostic code.
| 7805 Scars, other; and other effects of scars evaluated under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7804: |
| Evaluate any disabling effect(s) not considered in a rating provided under diagnostic codes 7800–04 under an appropriate diagnostic code |
Because the process for rating scars can be complex, especially when multiple scars and areas of the body are considered, it may be worth hiring a VA disability attorney if your claim for a VA rating for scars is denied.
Service connecting a scar
To service connect a scar, you must be able to prove that you got the scar as a result of military service. To do this, you may need to show service records for medical treatment during that time.
Scars may result from an injury you experienced in combat or training, like a fall, wreck, explosion, fire, or wound.
You may be able to show that the scar occurred due to another service-connected issue. For example, if you were diagnosed with cancer as a result of your military service and have a scar from a tumor removal surgery, you may be able to receive additional disability compensation for the scar.
On the other hand, you may also be able to receive VA disability for a secondary condition caused by your scars. A common secondary issue found in people with scarring is mental health problems. Scarring may affect a veteran’s self-esteem and self-image, leading to depression. This is especially common with facial scarring or burn scars.
Documenting this service connection and providing all the evidence you can is important when you file your claim with the VA.
“After trying and failing multiple times over many years to get widow’s compensation from the VA, I turned to Woods and Woods… I am so glad we found them. They are wonderful and very good at what they do. They are very professional and keep you updated and formed throughout the process.”
How our VA-accredited attorneys can help
If you have a service-connected condition that affects your ability to live and work comfortably, you deserve the full VA disability compensation you are owed. Contact Woods and Woods today for a free consultation to see how we can help. You only pay us if we win.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, you can. Regardless of whether scars are from combat, training, or another in-service event, you could have a claim.
No, it’s not too late. Just because the scars didn’t cause you pain, discomfort, or other problems until recently, if they are service-connected, you may be able to support your claim.
Neil Woods
VA disability lawyer
Woods and Woods
VA Accreditation Number: 44739
