VA BENEFITS REFERENCE
DC 7804: Scar(S), Unstable Or Painful
Read VA diagnostic code 7804 for Scar(s), unstable or painful: published criteria, regulatory notes, related codes and official sources checked October 25, 2026.
Published criteria from 38 CFR 4.118, current through 2026-10-22. Historical decisions may require a different version. This reference does not diagnose a condition or determine an evaluation.
The Skin · All Diagnostic Codes
DC 7804: Scar(S), Unstable Or Painful
Diagnostic code 7804 addresses Scar(s), unstable or painful. Read its specific instructions together with any shared formula, notes and linked provisions. These criteria describe evaluation after the applicable entitlement requirements are met; this reference does not diagnose a condition or determine a claim.
| 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 |
What The Criteria Measure
- Does the decision identify diagnostic code 7804, and does the medical record describe the condition named by this code?
- Have the code-specific notes and cross-references been read before comparing any listed evaluation?
Related Public DBQs
Editorial subject matches, not official VA code-to-form assignments. Read the form scope and clinician instructions.
Regulatory Cross-References
- DC 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
- DC 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
- DC 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
- DC 7805: Scars, other; and other effects of scars evaluated under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7804
Shared Rules And Regulatory Context
Context provisions do not create an additional evaluation automatically assigned to every condition.
Related Guides
Official Sources
Last verified 2026-10-25. Source publication or legal effective dates are shown separately where available.
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