United States · VA disability · 38 CFR 4.118
VA diagnostic code 7804: unstable or painful scars.
Rating criteria for diagnostic code 7804, quoted from the regulation.
DC 7804 rates unstable or painful scars by count: one or two scars is 10 percent, three or four is 20 percent, and five or more is 30 percent. Under Note (2), 10 percent is added when a scar is both unstable and painful.
The short version
DC 7804 rates unstable or painful scars by count: one or two scars is 10 percent, three or four is 20 percent, and five or more is 30 percent. Under Note (2), 10 percent is added when a scar is both unstable and painful. The levels in the code are 10, 20 and 30 percent.
DC 7804 rating criteria
Scar(s), unstable or painful
| Criteria (quoted from the regulation) | Rating |
|---|---|
| Five or more scars that are unstable or painful | 30% |
| Three or four scars that are unstable or painful | 20% |
| One or two scars that are unstable or painful | 10% |
Notes in the regulation
- Note (1): An unstable scar is one where, for any reason, there is frequent loss of covering of skin over the scar.
- Note (2): If one or more scars are both unstable and painful, add 10 percent to the evaluation that is based on the total number of unstable or painful scars
- Note (3): Scars evaluated under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7805 may also receive an evaluation under this diagnostic code, when applicable
How to read DC 7804
DC 7804 is a counting rule. The rating is set by how many scars are unstable or painful, not by how large they are or where they are. The text defines an unstable scar as one where there is frequent loss of covering of skin over the scar, for any reason.
Note (2) is an add-on: if one or more scars are both unstable and painful, add 10 percent to the evaluation based on the number of scars. A worked reading of the text: two scars that are unstable or painful give 10 percent; if at least one of those is both unstable and painful, the note adds 10 percent to that figure, giving 20 percent. That is a calculation from the rule text, not a VA example.
Note (3) lets a scar rated under 7800, 7801, 7802 or 7805 also be rated here when applicable, so a head, face or neck scar can carry both a disfigurement rating and a painful-scar rating.
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 7804?
Ten percent for one or two unstable or painful scars, 20 percent for three or four, and 30 percent for five or more (38 CFR 4.118).
What makes a scar unstable?
Note (1): there is frequent loss of covering of skin over the scar, for any reason.
What does Note (2) add?
If one or more scars are both unstable and painful, 10 percent is added to the evaluation based on the total number of unstable or painful scars.
Can a scar be rated under DC 7800 and DC 7804?
Note (3) says scars evaluated under 7800, 7801, 7802 or 7805 may also receive an evaluation under 7804, when applicable.
Does size or location matter for DC 7804?
Not in the text of this code. The rating depends on the number of unstable or painful scars.
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.