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If you have a painful or disfiguring scar or one that limits your movement, you may be eligible for VA disability for scars.
The VA rates scars based on factors like pain, location, disfigurement, and how the scar affects your ability to function.
In this post, we cover everything you need to know about how the VA handles scars, including how they rate them, how to qualify, and what to do if the VA denies your claim.
Do you qualify? Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- Combat, military training, gunshot wounds, burns, shrapnel, and service-related surgeries often cause scars in veterans.
- VA ratings for scars range from 10% to 80%, depending on factors such as location, size, pain, disfigurement, and whether the scar affects movement or function.
- A Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) for scars helps the VA evaluate your claim by having a doctor document your scars’ location, history, pain level, and severity.
Causes of Scars in Veterans
Scars are one of the most common service-connected VA disabilities, with over 1.1 million veterans who currently have a VA rating for scars. Scars are also the 6th most prevalent service-connected (SC) disabilities of new compensation recipients in 2024, with 96,578 new service connections.
Some common types of scars veterans experience include:
- Burn scars caused by exposure to heat or fire
- Surgical scars, a result of surgery or medical procedures
- Trauma scars caused by physical injuries, such as cuts or abrasions
- Keloid scars are raised and thickened scars that develop when the body overproduces collagen
What is the VA Rating for Scars?
If you have a scar from your military service, you could be eligible for a VA disability rating between 10% and 80%.
The VA rates scars based on two key factors:
- The condition of the scar – Is it painful? Unstable? Does it break open or cause skin issues?
- Disfigurement – Especially on visible areas like the face, neck, or hands. The VA looks at tissue loss, skin texture, and the number of features affected.
You can even get multiple ratings for different scars. If your scars impact your ability to move or function, they might be rated under a different diagnostic code altogether.
For example, if you’ve got several service-connected scars in different areas, each one might qualify for a separate rating.
VA Diagnostic Codes for Rating Scars
| Area of the Body where the scar is located | VA Diagnostic Code | Underlying soft tissue damage? | Painful or unstable? | Rating Level |
| Head, face, or neck | 7800 | – | – | 10%, 30%, 50%, or 80% |
| Any area other than head, face, or neck | 7801 | Yes | – | 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% |
| Any area other than head, face, or neck | 7802 | No | – | 10% |
| Any area of the body | 7804 | – | Yes | 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% |
| Any area of the body with a disabling effect not considered | 7805 | No | No | Depends on the disabling effect |
VA Rating Criteria for Scars
Based on the criteria below, the VA will rate your scars at the 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 80% rating level.
You only need to meet one of the listed criteria to receive a specific rating percentage.
80% VA Disability Rating
- Scarring is located on your head, face, or neck
- You have visible or palpable (can be seen or felt) tissue loss
- With either gross distortion or asymmetry of 3 or more features. For asymmetry, think nose, chin, forehead, eyes, eyelids, ears, cheeks, or lips
- With 6 or more characteristics of disfigurement
50% VA Disability Rating
- Scarring is located on your head, face, or neck
- You have visible or palpable (can be seen or felt) tissue loss
- With either gross distortion or asymmetry of 2 features
- With 4 or 5 characteristics of disfigurement
40% VA Disability Rating
- Scarring is below your neck
- You have scarring with underlying tissue damage and is at least 144 square inches in area
30% VA Disability Rating
- Scarring is located on your head, face, or neck
- You have visible or palpable (can be seen or felt) tissue loss
- With either gross distortion or asymmetry of 1 feature
- With 2 or 3 characteristics of disfigurement
- Scarring is below your neck
- You have scarring with underlying tissue damage with 72-143 square inches in area
- You have 5 or more unstable or painful scars or 3 or 4 unstable and painful scars
20% VA Disability Rating
- Scarring is below your neck
- You have scarring with underlying tissue damage with 12-71 square inches in area
- You have 3 or 4 unstable or painful scars or 1 or 2 unstable and painful scars
10% VA Disability Rating
- Scarring is below your neck
- With underlying tissue damage with 6-11 square inches in area
- Without underlying tissue damage with 144 square inches in area
- You have 1 or 2 unstable or painful scars
The VA will likely assign a 10% rating if your scars are below your neck, aren’t painful or unstable, and don’t involve underlying tissue loss.
How to Prove Service Connection for Scars
You must prove that your scars are connected to your military service to receive VA disability for scars. You’ll need:
- A current medical diagnosis
- Evidence of an in-service event, injury, or illness
- A medical nexus, or link, connecting your scars to your military service
5 Steps for Filing a VA Claim for Scars
If you’re ready to file for a VA rating for scars, follow these essential steps to ensure a strong claim:
- Gather all supporting evidence and submit your Intent to File to protect your effective date.
- File your claim using VA Form 21-526EZ, either online, in person, or by mail.
- Attend a VA medical exam (if required), where the VA will assess the severity of your scars.
- Await the decision and review your rating carefully.
- If necessary, appeal the decision if you are denied or believe you deserve a higher rating.
See More: How to File a VA Claim Online
Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) for Scars
A DBQ is a form your doctor fills out to describe your scars in detail.
A scars DBQ includes:
- Diagnosis and location of scars
- Pain level and whether they’re unstable
- History of how the scars formed
- Tissue loss, thickness, and depth (especially for burns)
- Number and type of scars
Reviewing a scars DBQ before your Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam can help you understand what to expect.
What to Do If Your VA Claim for Scars is Denied (or Rated Too Low)
If the VA denied your VA disability claim for scars or you believe your rating is too low, don’t worry; you have options to appeal the decision.
Here are the three main ways to appeal a VA decision:
Supplemental Claim
You can file a supplemental claim if you have new and relevant evidence (like updated medical records, photos of your scars, or a doctor’s opinion).
This allows the VA to review your case with the new information included.
Higher-Level Review (HLR)
You can request a higher-level review if you believe the VA made a mistake when deciding your claim.
A senior VA reviewer reviews your claim without considering new evidence. This option works well if you believe the VA overlooked your submitted evidence.
Board Appeals
You can also appeal directly to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. This process typically takes longer, but it allows a Veterans Law Judge to review your case in detail
You’ll have the option to:
- Submit new evidence,
- Request a hearing, or
- Let the board review your existing file.
Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals
Related: Use This Decision Tree to Appeal a VA Disability Claim Denial!
(FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get VA disability for scars?
Yes, you can receive VA disability benefits for scars if your military service caused or worsened them.
The VA rates scars based on factors like size, location, pain, disfigurement, and whether they limit movement or function. Ratings can range from 10% to 80%, depending on severity.
What is the VA disability rating for surgery scars?
The VA rates surgical scars based on whether they are unstable or painful. If a scar is either, it’s typically rated at 10%. If it’s both unstable and painful, the rating increases to 20%. Multiple qualifying scars can lead to a higher combined rating.
What is the VA rating for keloid scars?
Keloid scars are rated based on any disabling effects not already covered under other scar diagnostic codes. If they cause muscle damage, functional impairment, or other disabling effects, VA may evaluate them under a different diagnostic code as directed by Diagnostic Code 7805.
How does the VA rate multiple scars?
If your scars are on different body parts, typically different extremities, the VA may rate them separately and then combine the ratings.
For example, a scar on your right leg and another on your neck could qualify for separate ratings.
Check out our VA Disability Calculator to estimate your combined rating.
What is the VA rating for scars on the face?
Facial scars are primarily evaluated under 38 CFR § 4.118 using Diagnostic Code 7800. Depending on the severity and number of characteristic disfigurements, a disfiguring scar on the face may receive a rating from 10% to 80%.
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Author
Kelly Olone
Kelly Olone is a military spouse who earned her degree in Psychology from Florida International University. After working in the non-profit sector for several years, she turned to her passion for writing. She aims to contribute to a better understanding of the valuable benefits that veterans deserve. As a mom, Kelly navigates the delicate balance between deadlines and bedtime stories with finesse.
