United States · VA disability · 38 CFR 4.118
VA diagnostic code 7800: scars of the head, face, or neck.
Rating criteria for diagnostic code 7800, quoted from the regulation.
DC 7800 rates scars and disfigurement of the head, face or neck at 10, 30, 50 or 80 percent, based on the number of the eight listed characteristics of disfigurement and on tissue loss with distortion or asymmetry of facial features.
The short version
DC 7800 rates scars and disfigurement of the head, face or neck at 10, 30, 50 or 80 percent, based on the number of the eight listed characteristics of disfigurement and on tissue loss with distortion or asymmetry of facial features. The levels in the code are 10, 30, 50 and 80 percent.
DC 7800 rating criteria
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
| Criteria (quoted from the regulation) | Rating |
|---|---|
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| With one characteristic of disfigurement | 10% |
The 8 characteristics of disfigurement (Note 1)
Quoted from Note (1) to DC 7800:
- Scar 5 or more inches (13 or more cm.) in length.
- Scar at least one-quarter inch (0.6 cm.) wide at widest part.
- Surface contour of 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 abnormal (irregular, atrophic, shiny, 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.).
Notes in the regulation
- Note (2): Rate tissue loss of the auricle under DC 6207 (loss of auricle) and anatomical loss of the eye under DC 6061 (anatomical loss of both eyes) or DC 6063 (anatomical loss of one eye), as appropriate.
- Note (3): Take into consideration unretouched color photographs when evaluating under these criteria.
- Note (4): Separately evaluate disabling effects other than disfigurement that are associated with individual scar(s) of the head, face, or neck, such as pain, instability, and residuals of associated muscle or nerve injury, under the appropriate diagnostic code(s) and apply § 4.25 to combine the evaluation(s) with the evaluation assigned under this diagnostic code.
- Note (5): The characteristic(s) of disfigurement may be caused by one scar or by multiple scars; the characteristic(s) required to assign a particular evaluation need not be caused by a single scar in order to assign that evaluation.
How to read DC 7800
DC 7800 is the first code in the skin schedule (38 CFR 4.118) and covers burn scars, scars from other causes, and other disfigurement of the head, face or neck. It has two routes to a rating, joined by the word or: tissue loss with distortion or asymmetry of facial features, or a count of the eight characteristics of disfigurement in Note (1).
The count is the part most people use. One characteristic is 10 percent, two or three is 30, four or five is 50, and six or more is 80. The characteristics can come from one scar or from several scars together (Note 5). The eight characteristics are listed below exactly as Note (1) gives them.
Pain, instability and other disabling effects are not part of the 7800 rating. Note (4) says to evaluate them separately under the appropriate code and combine under 4.25; DC 7804 on this site covers painful or unstable scars.
What this page does not do
It does not diagnose, pick a diagnostic code, estimate your rating or advise on a claim. Every rating decision depends on the medical evidence and on VA’s application of the full schedule, including provisions this page does not reproduce.
Frequently asked questions
What are the rating levels for DC 7800?
Ten, 30, 50 and 80 percent, according to the number of the eight characteristics of disfigurement, or tissue loss with distortion or asymmetry of one, two, or three or more facial features (38 CFR 4.118).
What are the eight characteristics of disfigurement?
Scar 5 or more inches long; at least one-quarter inch wide; elevated or depressed contour; adherent to underlying tissue; hypo- or hyper-pigmented area over six square inches; abnormal texture over six square inches; underlying soft tissue missing over six square inches; and skin indurated and inflexible over six square inches. The exact wording is on this page.
How many characteristics are needed for 30 percent?
Two or three characteristics, or tissue loss with gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features.
Can several scars add up the characteristics?
Yes. Note (5) says the characteristics may be caused by one scar or by multiple scars.
Are painful scars rated under DC 7800?
No. Note (4) says pain, instability and similar effects are evaluated separately under the appropriate code and combined.
Does this page say what rating I should get?
No. It reproduces the published criteria. VA decides the diagnosis and the rating, and this page is not medical or claim advice.
Sources
Read directly from the primary sources below on November 2, 2026 (eCFR text current through October 29, 2026). Quotations are the regulation text; anything labelled as a reading or calculation is TNAADO's. The schedule is amended from time to time, so check the linked section for the latest text.
Reference, not a VA determination, medical advice or claim advice
Rating criteria summarized from 38 CFR 4.118 as of October 29, 2026 (eCFR). This page reproduces published criteria so you can read them; it does not tell you whether you qualify, what your rating should be, or how to file. VA decides the diagnosis, the code and the rating. It is not legal, financial or medical advice; an accredited representative (VSO, attorney or claims agent) can review your case.