Diagnostic Code 7804: Unstable or Painful Scars Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.118
- Rating range
- 10% to 30%
- Rating levels
- 3
- Body system
- Skin conditions
The VA rates Unstable or Painful Scars under diagnostic code 7804 in 38 CFR § 4.118. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.
DC 7804 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | One or two scars that are unstable or painful What raters look forone or two unstable or painful scars |
| 20% | Three or four scars that are unstable or painful What raters look forthree or four unstable or painful scars |
| 30% | Five or more scars that are unstable or painful What raters look forfive or more unstable or painful scars |
DC 7804 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 3,861 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 7804 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 46.4%, denied 47.8% and sent 5.7% back for more work. One appeal can contain more than one ruling.
By the rating the Board's order named
Only orders that state a rating percentage with a date are counted. An order denying a rating "in excess of 50 percent" names the existing rating; a grant may name the rating awarded. These are not all ratings veterans requested.
| Rating the order named | Decided rulings | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | 531 | 60.6% |
| 20 percent | 143 | 63.6% |
Recorded exam issues in remanded DC 7804 rulings
Percentages use all 222 rating rulings under this code the Board remanded, 2021 to 2026. Some rulings have no recorded exam classification, and small categories are not shown, so these rows need not total 100 percent.
- The VA exam or opinion was not adequate54.5%
- No exam problem recorded23.0%
- The exam was out of date or the condition had worsened14.4%
- Another problem with the exam5.4%
Method: Claim Raven read each ruling in every Board decision stored for 2021 to 2026 and counted it under this code when the decision named DC 7804 for a rating question. These results cover only rulings with an identified diagnostic code and may not represent rulings where no code was stated. Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out. These are outcomes within appeals, not first decisions, and not your personal odds.
Condition guide
The rating criteria are only part of the picture for Scars. The Scars condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
What happens to Scars appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 19,432 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on Scars, 2021 to 2026. The Scars condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.
Method: each ruling's outcome is read from the order in the Board's published decision and rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, leaving out dismissals and withdrawals. The data codes the condition the Board ruled on, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe Scars appeals generally rather than DC 7804 specifically. The DC 7804 section above counts this code's own rating appeals. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is VA diagnostic code 7804?
Diagnostic code 7804 is the VA rating schedule entry for Unstable or Painful Scars, found in 38 CFR § 4.118. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.
What ratings are possible under DC 7804?
DC 7804 provides ratings of 10%, 20%, 30%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 7804 require?
The 30% rating for Unstable or Painful Scars requires: Five or more scars that are unstable or painful.
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 7804?
In 3,766 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 7804 from 2021 to 2026, 45.7% were granted, 48.5% denied and 5.8% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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