VA rates scars and burns under Diagnostic Codes 7800–7805 (38 CFR 4.118), based on where the scar is, how big it is, and whether it's painful or unstable. Burns are rated under these same scar codes. The most overlooked of these: a single painful scar is compensable at 10% — even when it's small.
Straight talk first
Scars feel like the kind of thing you don't bother claiming — until you learn that a painful scar rates 10% on its own, and that big or disfiguring ones go much higher. Burns run through the same codes, scored on the scarring they leave. The trick is that multiple codes can apply at once (size, pain, disfigurement, other effects), so the same injury can support more than one rating. Don't leave them off the claim because they "seem minor."
This is the scars-and-burns cut of how VA rates conditions.
The five scar codes (DC 7800–7805)
DC 7800 — head, face, or neck (rated by disfigurement): 10% / 30% / 50% / 80%, rising with the number of distorted features or disfigurement characteristics (scar length/width, contour, adherence, pigment, texture, tissue loss).
DC 7801 — deep, nonlinear scars not on the head/face/neck (rated by area):
| Area | Rating |
|---|---|
| 6–11 sq in (39–76 sq cm) | 10% |
| 12–71 sq in (77–464 sq cm) | 20% |
| 72–143 sq in (465–928 sq cm) | 30% |
| ≥144 sq in (929 sq cm) | 40% |
DC 7802 — superficial, nonlinear scars elsewhere: 10% at ≥144 sq in (929 sq cm).
DC 7804 — unstable or painful scars (rated by count): 1–2 → 10%, 3–4 → 20%, 5+ → 30%; add 10% if a scar is both unstable and painful.
DC 7805 — other effects: any disabling effects of a scar not captured by 7800–7804.
Burns run through the same codes
A burn isn't rated as "a burn" — it's rated on the scarring it leaves: location (7800 for head/face/neck), total area (7801/7802), pain or instability (7804), and any other effects like limited motion of the underlying part (7805). Deeper, larger, or facial burns rate higher.
Stack the codes where they fit
Because each code captures a different problem, one injury can support multiple ratings — say a disfiguring facial scar (7800) plus separately painful scars (7804), with 7805 catching anything else. Each applicable rating then combines with the rest using VA math; run it through the VA Combined Rating Calculator.
Claiming scars and burns
Most are direct claims tied to an in-service injury, surgery, or burn — but a scar from surgery on a service-connected condition can be secondary. You'll need a current diagnosis (the scar exam measures area and notes pain/instability), the in-service cause, and a nexus. See how to file your own claim.
Key takeaways
- Scars and burns are rated under DC 7800–7805 by location, size, and pain/instability.
- A single painful scar rates 10% — one of the most overlooked ratings.
- Burns run through the same scar codes, scored on the scarring left behind.
- Multiple codes can apply to one injury — claim every effect, then combine.
Frequently asked questions
- How does VA rate scars?
- Scars are rated under 38 CFR 4.118 by which diagnostic code fits: 7800 for the head, face, or neck (by disfigurement); 7801 and 7802 for scars elsewhere (by area in square inches/cm); 7804 for scars that are painful or unstable (by number); and 7805 for any other disabling effects. Burns are rated under these same scar codes.
- Are painful scars compensable?
- Yes. Under DC 7804, one or two scars that are unstable or painful rate 10%, three or four rate 20%, and five or more rate 30%. If a scar is both unstable and painful, an extra 10% can be added. A small but painful scar is one of the more commonly overlooked ratings.
- How are burns rated?
- Burns are rated using the scar diagnostic codes (7800–7805) based on the resulting scarring — its location, total area, and whether it's painful or unstable. Deeper burns over larger areas, or on the face, rate higher. Any separate disabling effects can be rated under 7805.
- Can I get more than one scar rating?
- Often, yes. Different codes capture different problems — for example, a disfiguring facial scar (7800) and separately painful scars elsewhere (7804) — and 7805 picks up effects the other codes don't. Each applicable rating then combines using VA math.
Sources
- 38 CFR 4.118 — schedule of ratings, skin (scars, DC 7800–7805): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.118
- 38 CFR 3.310 — secondary service connection: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-3/subpart-A/section-3.310
- 38 CFR 4.25 — combined ratings table: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-4/subpart-A/section-4.25
- VA — How VA decides service connection: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/
