Skin · 38 CFR 4.118 · DC 7804
Painful or Unstable Scars VA Disability Rating
Painful or unstable scars (regardless of body location) are rated under DC 7804 by counting qualifying scars. Other scar codes cover linear (7805), non-linear (7802), deep non-linear (7801), and burns (7800). A scar can be rated under both 7804 (painful) and a location-specific code, since they evaluate different aspects.
Rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | One or two qualifying scars (painful or unstable). |
| 20% | Three or four qualifying scars. |
| 30% | Five or more qualifying scars. |
Common secondary conditions
Veterans rated for painful or unstable scars frequently file secondary-service-connection claims for:
- Underlying surgical scar
- Chronic pain
Use the calculator
Once you know the percentage assigned for this condition, plug it into the VA Combined Rating Calculator alongside any other service-connected ratings to see your combined percentage and 2026 monthly compensation.
Source citations
- 38 CFR 4.118 (eCFR)
- VA.gov current monthly compensation rates
- VA Office of General Counsel — Accreditation directory
VetDisabilityCalc is an independent reference site operated by Zoom Lifestyle LLC. We are not VA-accredited and we do not prepare or present VA claims. The information in this guide is reference material based on the cited regulations and is not legal advice. For representation, use the official VA OGC accreditation directory.