VA Diagnostic Code 7801Burn scar(s) or scar(s) due to other causes, not of the head, face, or neck, that are associated with underlying soft tissue damage:
Rated from 10% to 40% under § 4.118. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 40%
Area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater
- 30%
Area or areas of at least 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.) but less than 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.)
- 20%
Area or areas of at least 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.) but less than 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.)
- 10%
Area or areas of at least 6 square inches (39 sq. cm.) but less than 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.)
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Note (1): For the purposes of DCs 7801 and 7802, the six (6) zones of the body are defined as each extremity, anterior trunk, and posterior trunk. The midaxillary line divides the anterior trunk from the posterior trunk
- Note (2): A separate evaluation may be assigned for each affected zone of the body under this diagnostic code if there are multiple scars, or a single scar, affecting multiple zones of the body. Combine the separate evaluations under § 4.25. Alternatively, if a higher evaluation would result from adding the areas affected from multiple zones of the body, a single evaluation may also be assigned under this diagnostic code
Burn Scars & Scars With Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not on Head, Face, or Neck)
VA Diagnostic Code 7801 — Skin Conditions (§ 4.118)
Understanding This Condition
Diagnostic Code 7801 covers burn scars or scars from other causes that are located anywhere on the body except the head, face, or neck, and that are associated with underlying soft tissue damage.
Under the VA rating system, these scars are evaluated based on the total area they affect, measured in square inches (or square centimeters). The larger the affected area, the higher the potential rating.
How the Body Is Measured
The VA divides the body into six (6) zones for the purposes of this diagnostic code:
- Each extremity (arms and legs)
- The anterior trunk (front)
- The posterior trunk (back)
The midaxillary line divides the anterior trunk from the posterior trunk.
If you have multiple scars, or a single scar that crosses into more than one zone, a separate evaluation may be assigned for each affected zone, and those evaluations are combined under § 4.25. Alternatively, if adding together the areas affected across multiple zones would produce a higher evaluation, a single evaluation may be assigned instead.
Available Rating Levels
| Rating | What It Reflects |
|---|---|
| 40% | Area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater |
| 30% | Area or areas of at least 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.) but less than 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) |
| 20% | Area or areas of at least 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.) but less than 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.) |
| 10% | Area or areas of at least 6 square inches (39 sq. cm.) but less than 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.) |
What the VA Looks For
When rating a scar under Diagnostic Code 7801, the VA focuses on:
- The size of the affected area, measured in square inches or square centimeters
- Whether the scar is associated with underlying soft tissue damage
- The location of the scar, confirming it is not on the head, face, or neck
- How many body zones are affected, since separate evaluations may be assigned per zone and combined, or a single evaluation may apply across zones — whichever approach is appropriate
Measuring the total affected area accurately is central to how this condition is evaluated.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.118, diagnostic code 7801. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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