The exam form
The examiner fills out VA's "Scars/Disfigurement" form (a Disability Benefits Questionnaire, or DBQ). See the form on VA.gov
Form version checked: Updated on 2025-12-03 (v25_2).
What the exam is for
The exam records each scar and how it affects you: where it is, its size, whether it's painful or unstable, and, on the head, face or neck, any disfigurement. Other VA exam forms tell the examiner to fill out this scars form too when a scar is painful or unstable, covers 39 square centimeters (6 square inches) or more, or is on the head, face or neck.
What the examiner will ask and measure
- How each scar happened, and how it has changed.
- Painful scars: how many you have (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more), and what the pain is like.
- Unstable scars: how many, and how the skin over the scar breaks down or comes off.
- Burn scars: which scars are from burns, and how deep the original burn was.
- The size of each scar in centimeters (length and width at the widest points), and the total area in each body region: each arm, each leg, the front of your body and your back. If there are too many to count, such as scattered shrapnel or acne scars, the examiner estimates the total area.
- For each scar: whether it's tender to the touch, looks unstable when the examiner checks it, or has damage to the tissue under the skin.
- Head, face and neck: whether each scar is raised or sunken to the touch, stuck to the tissue below it, or missing the tissue under the skin. The examiner also measures areas of skin that are lighter or darker, have an abnormal texture (irregular, thin, shiny or scaly), or are hard and stiff.
- Facial features: gross distortion or asymmetry (a feature that's badly misshapen or uneven), or tissue loss you can see or feel, of your nose, chin, forehead, cheeks, lips, eyes or eyelids, and ears, including loss of part or all of an ear.
- Limits on use or motion caused by a scar. For limited motion, the examiner also fills out the right joint or muscle exam form.
- Other problems linked to a scar, such as muscle or nerve damage.
- Color photos. They aren't required, but if the examiner takes them, they go with the report.
- How your scars or disfigurement affect your work, with examples.
Be ready to describe
- Every scar: where it is and how you got it, including surgery scars and burn scars.
- Which scars hurt, and what the pain is like.
- Which scars break down or lose their skin covering, and how often.
- Any scar that limits how you move, or that has numbness, weakness or other muscle or nerve problems near it.
- For burns, how deep the burn was, if you know.
- How your scars affect your work, with examples.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting surgery scars, small scars, or scars in places you don't usually show.
- Not mentioning that a scar hurts or breaks down because it isn't happening that day.
- Leaving out limited motion or numbness near a scar. VA rates these separately.
- Not pointing out every change on your head, face or neck. VA can count features that come from different scars together.
How VA rates it
VA rates scars in several ways. Scars and other disfigurement of the head, face or neck are rated on 8 characteristics of disfigurement and on tissue loss that changes your facial features. Other scars are rated by their size, and painful or unstable scars by how many you have. Other effects of a scar, like limited motion, are rated under the code that fits. VA changed its rules for scars that aren't on the head, face or neck in August 2018. VA proposed changes to its rules for painful scars in September 2025 (90 FR 46542). As of October 2026 they aren't final, so the current rules still apply.
In plain English
- Head, face or neck, 10%: one characteristic of disfigurement.
- Head, face or neck, 30%: two or three characteristics; or tissue loss you can see or feel (visible or palpable tissue loss) with gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features.
- Head, face or neck, 50%: four or five characteristics; or tissue loss you can see or feel with gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features.
- Head, face or neck, 80%: six or more characteristics; or tissue loss you can see or feel with gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features.
- The features are the nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears, cheeks and lips.
- The 8 characteristics of disfigurement: a scar 5 or more inches (13 or more cm) long; a scar at least one-quarter inch (0.6 cm) wide at its widest part; a scar surface that's raised or sunken when touched; a scar stuck to the tissue below it (adherent); and, in an area larger than 6 square inches (39 sq cm), skin that's lighter or darker than normal (hypo- or hyperpigmented), skin with an abnormal texture (such as irregular, thin, shiny or scaly), missing soft tissue under the skin, or skin that's hard and stiff (indurated and inflexible).
- For the head, face and neck: the characteristics can come from one scar or from several. VA considers unretouched color photos. Tissue loss of an ear (auricle) and loss of an eye are rated under their own codes. Pain, instability, and muscle or nerve damage from these scars are rated separately and combined.
- Other scars with damage to the soft tissue under the skin (not on the head, face or neck): 10% for an area of at least 6 but less than 12 square inches (at least 39 but less than 77 sq cm); 20% at least 12 but less than 72 square inches (at least 77 but less than 465 sq cm); 30% at least 72 but less than 144 square inches (at least 465 but less than 929 sq cm); 40% 144 square inches (929 sq cm) or more.
- Other scars without damage to the soft tissue under the skin (not on the head, face or neck): 10% for an area of 144 square inches (929 sq cm) or more.
- Body zones: for these other scars, VA divides the body into 6 zones: each arm, each leg, the front of the trunk and the back of the trunk (split by a line down the middle of each side, the midaxillary line). VA can rate each zone separately and combine the ratings. Or, if it gives a higher rating, VA can add up the areas from several zones for one rating.
- Painful or unstable scars (anywhere on the body): 10% for one or two scars that are unstable or painful; 20% for three or four; 30% for five or more. If one or more scars are both unstable and painful, VA adds 10% to the level based on the number of scars.
- "Unstable" means that, for any reason, the skin over the scar often breaks down or comes off. Scars rated under the other scar codes can also get a rating for being painful or unstable.
- Other effects of scars: VA rates any other disabling effect of a scar, such as limited motion, under the code that fits.
The regulation, word for word
Quoted from 38 CFR Part 4 (current as of October 16, 2026). This is what VA applies. The plain-English version above is our summary of it.
38 CFR 4.118, diagnostic code 7800: 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 Open in the Rating Criteria Lookup
| Criteria | Rating |
|---|
| 7800 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: | |
| 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 | 80 |
| 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 | 50 |
| 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 | 30 |
| With one characteristic of disfigurement | 10 |
| 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. | |
38 CFR 4.118, diagnostic code 7801: Burn scar(s) or scar(s) due to other causes, not of the head, face, or neck, that are associated with underlying soft tissue damage Open in the Rating Criteria Lookup
| Criteria | Rating |
|---|
| 7801 Burn scar(s) or scar(s) due to other causes, not of the head, face, or neck, that are associated with underlying soft tissue damage: | |
| Area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater | 40 |
| Area or areas of at least 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.) but less than 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) | 30 |
| Area or areas of at least 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.) but less than 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.) | 20 |
| Area or areas of at least 6 square inches (39 sq. cm.) but less than 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.) | 10 |
| 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 | |
38 CFR 4.118, diagnostic code 7802: Burn scar(s) or scar(s) due to other causes, not of the head, face, or neck, that are not associated with underlying soft tissue damage Open in the Rating Criteria Lookup
| Criteria | Rating |
|---|
| 7802 Burn scar(s) or scar(s) due to other causes, not of the head, face, or neck, that are not associated with underlying soft tissue damage: | |
| Area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater | 10 |
| 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 | |
| Criteria | Rating |
|---|
| 7804 Scar(s), unstable or painful: | |
| Five or more scars that are unstable or painful | 30 |
| Three or four scars that are unstable or painful | 20 |
| One or two scars that are unstable or painful | 10 |
| Note (1): An unstable scar is one where, for any reason, there is frequent loss of covering of skin over the scar. | |
| Note (2): If one or more scars are both unstable and painful, add 10 percent to the evaluation that is based on the total number of unstable or painful scars | |
| Note (3): Scars evaluated under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7805 may also receive an evaluation under this diagnostic code, when applicable | |
38 CFR 4.118, diagnostic code 7805: Scars, other; and other effects of scars evaluated under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7804 Open in the Rating Criteria Lookup
| Criteria | Rating |
|---|
| 7805 Scars, other; and other effects of scars evaluated under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7804: | |
| Evaluate any disabling effect(s) not considered in a rating provided under diagnostic codes 7800-04 under an appropriate diagnostic code | |
Related
About every C&P exam
What is it?
After you file a claim, VA may ask you to have a claim exam, also called a compensation and pension (C&P) exam. It helps VA decide whether your condition is connected to your service, and how severe it is. It isn't treatment: the examiner won't treat you, prescribe medicine or refer you to anyone.
Who does it?
A VA provider or a provider from one of VA's exam contractors (Loyal Source, OptumServe, QTC or VES). VA picks; you can't choose. Hearing, mental health, eye and dental exams are done by specialists. For a reproductive, breast, rectal or mental health exam, or a claim related to military sexual trauma, you can ask for a male or female examiner.
How long does it take?
VA says anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more, depending on what you claimed. Some exams are by phone or video. If you claimed more than one condition, VA tries to schedule them on the same day.
Does the examiner decide my claim?
No. The examiner writes a report on a standard form (a Disability Benefits Questionnaire, or DBQ) and sends it to VA. VA decides your claim using all the evidence: the report, your medical and service records, and statements from you and others. The examiner can't tell you the results or answer questions about your claim.
Does everyone get one?
No. If your records already have what VA needs, VA can decide from the records alone (VA calls this Acceptable Clinical Evidence, or ACE).
What if I can't make it?
Call the number on your appointment letter at least 48 hours ahead to reschedule. Missing an exam delays your claim. VA may decide your claim on the evidence it already has, and some claims, such as a claim for an increase, are denied (38 CFR 3.655). If you had a good reason, such as being in the hospital or a death in your family, tell VA and ask for a new exam.
What should I bring?
VA says you don't need to bring anything. Send any new medical records to VA before the exam, because the examiner can't send them in for you. Arrive 15 minutes early and wear clothes you can move in. Many veterans find it helps to bring a short list of their symptoms, medicines and side effects, and key dates, so nothing is forgotten.
Can someone come with me?
You can ask the examiner. They may ask family members or caregivers to wait outside. For a sensitive physical exam, you can ask for a chaperone in the room.
Can I get a copy of the report?
Yes. Ask VA with a Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act request (VA Form 20-10206). VetEZ Claim can help you fill it out and send it.
Can my own doctor fill out the form instead?
For many conditions, yes. VA publishes the exam forms (DBQs) your own doctor can fill out and you can send in. VA doesn't pay for this. A few exam forms are for VA's own examiners.
Checked against VA's forms and rules on October 20, 2026. General information only, not medical or legal advice about your claim. VA decides every claim.
