Scars and Disfigurement (Head, Face, Neck)
Scars and disfigurement involving the head, face, or neck are rated under Diagnostic Code 7800. Ratings are based on either visible or palpable disfigurement, or the additive effect of characteristics of disfigurement. The VA considers scars on the cheeks, chin, ears, eyes and eyelids, forehead, mouth and lips, and nose for this schedule. This is a presumptive condition for veterans exposed to mustard gas. If the scar also causes nerve damage, loss of an eye, complete loss of the outer ear, or jaw impairment, those problems can be rated separately.
VA Rating Levels
One characteristic of disfigurement is present.
Visible or palpable tissue loss with gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes, ears, cheeks, lips), or there are 2 to 3 characteristics of disfigurement.
Visible or palpable tissue loss with gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features, or there are 4 to 5 characteristics of disfigurement.
Visible or palpable tissue loss with gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features, or there are at least 6 characteristics of disfigurement.
Exam Tips & Key Evidence
- →Characteristics of disfigurement include: scar 5 or more inches long, scar at least 1/4 inch wide at its widest, scar attached to underlying tissue, scar surface sinks or raises when pushed, abnormal skin color exceeding 6 square inches, abnormal skin texture exceeding 6 square inches, underlying soft tissue missing exceeding 6 square inches, and skin that is hard and inflexible exceeding 6 square inches.
- →Each disfigurement characteristic can only be counted once, even if more than one scar has the same feature (for example, abnormal texture on multiple scars counts as one).
- →Calculate total affected area using ALL scars from the head, face, and neck together, but multiple scars cannot be added together to meet the width requirement.
- →Common secondary ratings alongside disfigurement include nerve damage, loss of an eye, complete loss of the outer ear, and jaw impairment. Each can be rated separately.
- →This is commonly applied for Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) which often causes scarring of the face and neck.
Commonly Related Conditions
38 CFR Reference
38 CFR $ 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7800