VA Diagnostic Code 7800Burn 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:
Rated from 10% to 80% under § 4.118. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 80%
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
- 50%
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
- 30%
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
- 10%
With one characteristic of disfigurement
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Note (1): The 8 characteristics of disfigurement, for purposes of evaluation under § 4.118, are: 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.).
- 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.
Burn Scars & Disfigurement of the Head, Face, or Neck (VA Diagnostic Code 7800)
Skin conditions — 38 CFR § 4.118
What This Rating Covers
Diagnostic Code 7800 addresses 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.
Because these scars and disfigurement affect the most visible parts of the body, the VA evaluates them using a specific set of criteria that measures both the physical characteristics of the scarring and any distortion or asymmetry of facial features.
The 8 Characteristics of Disfigurement
For evaluation under § 4.118, the VA recognizes 8 characteristics of disfigurement:
- Scar 5 or more inches (13 or more cm) in length.
- Scar at least one-quarter inch (0.6 cm) wide at its 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).
Note: The characteristic(s) of disfigurement may be caused by one scar or by multiple scars. The characteristic(s) required to assign a particular evaluation do not need to be caused by a single scar in order to assign that evaluation.
Available Rating Levels
The features and paired sets of features considered are: nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, and lips.
| Rating | What It Reflects |
|---|---|
| 80% | Visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features, orsix or more characteristics of disfigurement. |
| 50% | Visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features, orfour or five characteristics of disfigurement. |
| 30% | Visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features, ortwo or three characteristics of disfigurement. |
| 10% | One characteristic of disfigurement. |
What the VA Looks For
- Tissue loss and facial distortion. Higher ratings consider visible or palpable tissue loss together with gross distortion or asymmetry across specific facial features and paired sets of features.
- Number of disfigurement characteristics. The VA counts how many of the 8 characteristics of disfigurement are present, which can result from a single scar or multiple scars combined.
- Unretouched color photographs. The VA takes into consideration unretouched color photographs when evaluating under these criteria.
Related Evaluations to Be Aware Of
- Tissue loss of the auricle is rated under DC 6207 (loss of auricle).
- Anatomical loss of the eye is rated under DC 6061 (anatomical loss of both eyes) or DC 6063 (anatomical loss of one eye), as appropriate.
- Other disabling effects associated with individual scar(s) of the head, face, or neck — such as pain, instability, and residuals of associated muscle or nerve injury — are separately evaluated under the appropriate diagnostic code(s), and § 4.25 is applied to combine those evaluation(s) with the evaluation assigned under this diagnostic code.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.118, diagnostic code 7800. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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