The VA rates scars and disfigurement under 38 C.F.R. § 4.118, using diagnostic codes 7800 through 7805. Ratings range from 0% to 80%, based on where the scar is located, how large it is, whether it is painful or unstable, and how much visible disfigurement it causes. A single deep facial scar with tissue loss can rate as high as 80%, while a small, non-painful scar on the arm may rate at 0%. This guide breaks down every diagnostic code, the 2026 monthly pay rates tied to each rating, and how to build a claim the VA will actually approve.
How the VA Rates Scars: The Basics
The VA does not use one scar rating. It uses five separate diagnostic codes depending on the scar's location and characteristics, and a veteran can sometimes be rated under more than one code for the same scar if it causes more than one type of impairment.
- DC 7800: Scars or disfigurement of the head, face, or neck
- DC 7801: Deep, nonlinear scars not on the head, face, or neck
- DC 7802: Superficial, nonlinear scars not on the head, face, or neck
- DC 7804: Unstable or painful scars, anywhere on the body
- DC 7805: Scars that limit function of the affected body part
A "deep" scar is one associated with underlying soft tissue damage. A "superficial" scar has no underlying tissue damage. An "unstable" scar is one with frequent loss of skin covering over the scar site, meaning the skin keeps breaking down and healing.
Importantly, a scar rated under 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7805 can also receive a separate, additional rating under 7804 if it is painful or unstable. This means veterans with facial scars that are also painful can be compensated for both the disfigurement and the pain.
DC 7800: Head, Face, or Neck Scars and Disfigurement
This is the code that produces the highest ratings, because facial and neck disfigurement is evaluated against eight specific "characteristics of disfigurement" defined in the regulation:
- Scar 5 or more inches long
- Scar at least one-quarter inch wide at its widest part
- Surface contour of the scar elevated or depressed on palpation
- Scar adherent to underlying tissue
- Skin hypopigmented or hyperpigmented in an area exceeding 6 square inches
- Abnormal skin texture (shiny, scaly, etc.) in an area exceeding 6 square inches
- Underlying soft tissue missing in an area exceeding 6 square inches
- Skin indurated and inflexible in an area exceeding 6 square inches
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|
| 10% | One characteristic of disfigurement |
| 30% | Two or three characteristics of disfigurement, OR visible tissue loss with gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature (nose, chin, forehead, eyes, ears, cheeks, or lips) |
| 50% | Four or five characteristics of disfigurement, OR visible tissue loss with gross distortion or asymmetry of two features |
| 80% | Six or more characteristics of disfigurement, OR visible tissue loss with gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features |
A veteran does not need every characteristic listed to reach the higher ratings. Two or three characteristics alone is enough for 30%, and this rating tier is where many veterans with visible burn scars, shrapnel scars, or surgical scars on the face land.
DC 7801: Deep, Nonlinear Scars (Not Head, Face, or Neck)
Applies to deep scars elsewhere on the body that are associated with underlying soft tissue damage.
| Rating | Area Affected |
|---|
| 10% | At least 6 square inches (39 sq cm) but less than 12 square inches |
| 20% | At least 12 square inches but less than 72 square inches |
| 30% | At least 72 square inches but less than 144 square inches |
| 40% | 144 square inches (929 sq cm) or greater |
DC 7802: Superficial, Nonlinear Scars (Not Head, Face, or Neck)
Applies to superficial scars, meaning there is no underlying soft tissue damage, on parts of the body other than the head, face, or neck.
| Rating | Area Affected |
|---|
| 0% | Less than 144 square inches |
| 10% | 144 square inches (929 sq cm) or greater |
This is a single-tier code. There is no rating higher than 10% under 7802, regardless of how much surface area is affected beyond the threshold.
DC 7804: Unstable or Painful Scars
This code applies to any scar, anywhere on the body, that is painful or unstable, and it can be combined with ratings under 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7805.
| Rating | Number of Unstable or Painful Scars |
|---|
| 10% | One or two scars |
| 20% | Three or four scars |
| 30% | Five or more scars |
For 2026, the VA has placed more weight on objective medical evidence when evaluating painful scar claims. A veteran's own statement that a scar hurts is still relevant, but examiners are expected to document objective findings such as tenderness on palpation, skin breakdown, or documented flare-ups, rather than relying solely on subjective pain reports. If you are filing a claim based on a painful scar, ask your treating provider to document tenderness, breakdown, or functional interference at every visit, not just report it verbally.
DC 7805: Scars Rated on Functional Limitation
DC 7805 is used when a scar, most often a linear scar that is not painful or unstable and is not on the head, face, or neck, still limits the function of the affected body part. Instead of a fixed percentage table, the VA rates this code based on the diagnostic code that covers the limited function. For example, a scar on the knee that restricts range of motion would be rated using the knee limitation-of-motion codes, not a scar-specific percentage.
2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates
VA disability pay increased by 2.8% (COLA) effective December 2025 for the 2026 payment year. Monthly compensation for a single veteran with no dependents, by rating percentage:
| Rating | Monthly Payment (2026) |
|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Veterans rated at 30% or higher qualify for additional compensation if they have a spouse, child, or dependent parent. Ratings of 10% and 20% do not receive dependent add-ons, regardless of family size. Multiple scar ratings are combined with any other service-connected disabilities using the VA's combined ratings table, not simple addition, so your total combined rating may be lower than the sum of the individual percentages.
Combining Scar Ratings With Other Disabilities
Scars frequently occur alongside other service-connected conditions, especially from the same injury. A veteran with a burn injury, for example, might have a facial scar rated under 7800, a painful scar rating under 7804, and a separate muscle or nerve damage rating from the same burn. All of these can be service connected together, but the VA combines them using its combined ratings table (sometimes called "VA math"), which accounts for the fact that a person cannot be more than 100% disabled overall. Two 30% ratings do not add up to 60%, they combine to approximately 51%, which rounds to 50%.
How to File a VA Claim for Scars or Disfigurement
- Confirm the in-service event. You need evidence the scar resulted from an in-service injury, surgery, burn, or wound, documented in service treatment records, or a buddy statement if records are incomplete.
- Get current medical evidence. A current diagnosis and description of the scar (location, size, whether it is painful, unstable, deep, or superficial) is required. Photos help but do not replace a medical exam.
- File your claim. Submit VA Form 21-526EZ online through VA.gov, by mail, or in person at a VA regional office, or with help from a Veterans Service Organization (VSO).
- Attend the Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam. The examiner measures the scar, checks for the eight characteristics of disfigurement if it is on the head, face, or neck, and documents tenderness or instability.
- Request a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) from your provider if possible. A private DBQ completed by your own doctor, describing the scar's measurements and pain, can strengthen your file before the C&P exam.
- Track your claim status through VA.gov or the VA claim status tool after submission.
If your claim is denied or rated lower than expected, you can file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, request a Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest VA disability rating for a scar?
The maximum single rating for a scar is 80%, under DC 7800, for severe head, face, or neck disfigurement involving visible tissue loss and gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more facial features, or six or more characteristics of disfigurement.
Can I get a VA rating for a scar that doesn't hurt?
Yes. Non-painful scars can still be rated based on size and location under DC 7800, 7801, or 7802, even without pain. Pain and instability are rated separately under DC 7804 and can be added on top of a size or location-based rating.
Can I be rated for more than one scar at the same time?
Yes. Each qualifying scar, or each affected area, can be rated separately. Multiple painful or unstable scars are combined under DC 7804 based on how many scars you have, and scars in different locations may each carry their own diagnostic code rating, then combined using the VA's combined ratings table.
Do surgical scars from military medical treatment count?
Yes, if the surgery was connected to a service-connected condition or in-service event. A scar from surgery to repair a combat injury, for example, is generally rated the same as the original wound scar.
How much does a 30% VA scar rating pay in 2026?
A 30% VA disability rating pays $552.47 per month in 2026 for a single veteran with no dependents. Veterans with a spouse or dependents receive additional monthly compensation at the 30% level and above.
Does a scar rating affect other VA benefits?
Yes. Your combined disability rating, which includes scar ratings combined with any other service-connected conditions, determines eligibility for benefits like VA health care priority groups, Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP), and certain state veteran benefits.
Not sure what else you might qualify for alongside VA disability? Use the Benefits Navigator screener to check your eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, ACA subsidies, and other programs in minutes.
