Scars - Traumatic — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Scars - Traumatic
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960F-1 (Scars/Disfigurement) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Scars - Traumatic — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Scars - Traumatic, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Scars - Traumatic
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.118, DC 7800/7801/7802/7804/7805 (scars). Traumatic scars are rated on area, characteristics of disfigurement, and whether they are painful or unstable.. Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
One or two scars that are painful or unstable (DC 7804); or a deep scar (with underlying soft tissue damage, not head/face/neck) covering at least 6 but less than 12 square inches (DC 7801); or a head/face/neck scar with one characteristic of disfigurement (DC 7800); or a superficial scar not of the head/face/neck covering 144 square inches or more (DC 7802).
Three or four scars that are painful or unstable (DC 7804); or a deep scar covering at least 12 but less than 72 square inches (DC 7801).
Five or more scars that are painful or unstable (DC 7804); or a deep scar covering at least 72 but less than 144 square inches (DC 7801); or a head/face/neck scar with two or three characteristics of disfigurement (DC 7800).
A deep scar (with underlying soft tissue damage) covering 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater (DC 7801).
Head, face, or neck scar with four or five characteristics of disfigurement, or visible/palpable tissue loss with distortion of two features (DC 7800).
Head, face, or neck scar with six or more characteristics of disfigurement, or visible/palpable tissue loss with gross distortion of three or more features (DC 7800). If scars are both unstable and painful, add 10 percent to the DC 7804 evaluation.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Scars - Traumatic raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Scars - Traumatic claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2023 · PMID 36781457
Finding: Systematic review of 25 randomized controlled trials found that exaggerated healing after skin injury produces hypertrophic and keloid scars that are associated with functional impairment and reduced quality of life. Intralesional injection was the most effective treatment (64.1% scar reduction, 95% CI 60.8-67.5%) versus physical (29.9%) or topical (34%) therapies.
Why it helps: Supports that traumatic hypertrophic and keloid scars are a recognized clinical entity that causes functional and quality-of-life impairment, helping document the severity and treatment burden of a service-connected scar.
Journal of Burn Care & Research, 2019 · PMID 30919903
Finding: Prospective multicenter study (US Army Institute of Surgical Research co-authors) of 174 joints in 66 burn survivors found scar contracture significantly limited range of motion, with a revised cutaneokinematic protocol showing 38.8% motion limitation versus 32.1% by standard goniometry (p<0.0001), and greater limitation correlated with the percentage of skin area scarred.
Why it helps: Supports an association between traumatic/burn scars overlying joints and measurable loss of range of motion and function, which is directly relevant to documenting functional limitation from a scar.
Wound Repair and Regeneration, 2018 · PMID 29719102
Finding: Review of 129 post-burn hypertrophic scar patients found 58% had scar pain requiring medication and 49% had scar pruritus requiring medication; thicker scars (2-5 mm) carried about 4-fold higher odds of pain (OR 3.997, 95% CI 1.523-10.487), and banding/contracture scars carried higher odds of activity-limiting paresthesia (OR 4.705, 95% CI 1.281-17.288).
Why it helps: Supports an association between traumatic/hypertrophic scars and persistent pain, itching, and abnormal sensation, helping document the symptomatic burden of a scar beyond its appearance.
Romanian Journal of Morphology and Embryology, 2012 · nexus to depression, reduced quality of life · PMID 22990550
Finding: Study of 26 extensive-burn survivors found a strong negative correlation between scar severity (POSAS) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) (r=-0.93, p<0.001), with the authors concluding disfiguring hypertrophic scars affect quality of life and contribute to depression.
Why it helps: Supports an association between disfiguring traumatic/burn scars and reduced quality of life and depressive symptoms, relevant to a mental-health condition claimed as secondary to a service-connected scar.
Actas Espanolas de Psiquiatria, 2026 · nexus to anxiety, depression, PTSD · PMID 42343734
Finding: Retrospective cohort of 102 post-burn scar surgery patients documented baseline anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms (measured by SAS, SDS, and PTSD Checklist-Civilian), and found a psychosocial nursing intervention significantly reduced these symptoms and improved quality of life (p<0.05).
Why it helps: Supports an association between traumatic/burn scarring and anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms, relevant to mental-health conditions claimed as secondary to a service-connected scar.
- Relationships between combat injury, pain, mobility and post-service employment: the ADVANCE studyDirect
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2026 · PMID 41276302
Finding: Cohort study of 406 combat-injured UK service members aeromedically evacuated from Afghanistan versus 107 uninjured comparisons found that, among those injured without limb loss, combat injury raised the risk of post-service unemployment indirectly through both mobility limitation (adjusted RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11-1.69) and pain (adjusted RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.31).
Why it helps: Supports that combat wounds and the residual pain and mobility limitation they leave behind affect veterans' post-service functioning, providing military context for traumatic injuries and their lasting physical residuals.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Scars - Traumatic
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Scars - Traumatic. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Draft your Scars - Traumatic personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
Start Your Scars - Traumatic VA Claim
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Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Scars - Traumatic.
Scars - Traumatic Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
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Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.