VA Disability Rating for Scars (Painful, Unstable, or Disfiguring)
Rated separately from underlying condition. Painful/unstable scars → 10/20/30% by count.
Scars (DC 7800–7805) are rated separately from the underlying injury. A combat wound rated for its primary disability (e.g., shrapnel injury with muscle damage) gets an ADDITIONAL rating for the resulting scar if the scar is painful, unstable, or disfiguring. This is a commonly missed additional rating.
Rating tiers + 2026 monthly compensation
| Rating | Monthly (2026, single vet) | Criteria (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | DC 7804: 1 or 2 painful/unstable scars. DC 7800: one characteristic of disfigurement on head/face/neck. |
| 20% | $356.66 | DC 7804: 3 or 4 painful/unstable scars. |
| 30% | $552.47 | DC 7804: 5+ painful/unstable scars. DC 7800: visible or palpable tissue loss, plus gross distortion or asymmetry. |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | DC 7800: two characteristics of disfigurement on head/face/neck. |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | DC 7800: four or more characteristics of disfigurement, OR six or more characteristics with visible tissue loss. |
Dollar amounts reflect the 2.5% COLA effective 2025-12-01 for single veterans with no dependents. Add spouse + children for 30%+ ratings via the estimator.
What this means in dollars
- →At 10%: $180.42/mo · $2,165/year, tax-free
- →At 20%: $356.66/mo · $4,280/year, tax-free
- →At 30%: $552.47/mo · $6,630/year, tax-free
- →At 50%: $1,132.90/mo · $13,595/year, tax-free
- →At 80%: $2,102.15/mo · $25,226/year, tax-free
How to get rated for scars (painful, unstable, or disfiguring)
- Document the scar at the C&P exam: dimensions, appearance, whether it is painful to touch, whether it sticks or breaks down.
- If from a combat injury, get photos — scars can change over time.
- File scar rating separately from the underlying injury rating.
Nexus tips
- Scars from service-connected surgery (e.g., post-service surgery for a service-connected condition) are rated.
Frequently asked
Does a routine scar count?
A non-painful, stable, non-disfiguring scar gets 0% (service-connected but non-compensable). Scars must be painful, unstable, disfiguring, or cover significant area to rate above 0%.
Ready to act on this?
Get a full rating estimate across your conditions, or draft the nexus letter your doctor needs to sign.
This page summarizes public rating criteria from 38 CFR Part 4. It is not legal or medical advice. Actual VA ratings depend on C&P exam findings, records review, and rater discretion.