C&P Exam for Burn scar of the head, face, or neck; scar of the head, face, or neck due to other causes; or other disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800)
Which form the examiner uses
For burn scar of the head, face, or neck; scar of the head, face, or neck due to other causes; or other disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800), the C&P examiner completes the following Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):
- DBQ DERM Scars (public PDF on VA.gov)
DBQs are Department of Veterans Affairs Form 21-0960 series documents. Public DBQs are hosted on benefits.va.gov. A handful are examiner-only and are not posted publicly.
What the examiner records
The fields below are reproduced from the DBQ form the examiner completes for this diagnostic code. This is the structural map of the form, showing what the examiner is asked to measure, observe, and record. It is a factual reproduction of the public DBQ, not advice on how to answer.
This DBQ evaluates scars anywhere on the body and disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, including measurements, characteristics, and functional impact.
How DC 7800 maps to this DBQ: for this diagnostic code specifically, the examiner typically completes sections I and III-IV of this form. Section III is the condition-specific section for this code. Section II covers an unrelated condition on this DBQ and is skipped.
DIAGNOSIS (Section I)
- Does the Veteran have one or more scars anywhere on the body, or disfigurement of the head, face, or neck?
- Diagnosis #1
- Diagnosis #1 ICD Code
- Diagnosis #1 Date of diagnosis
- Diagnosis #2
- Diagnosis #2 ICD Code
- Diagnosis #2 Date of diagnosis
- Diagnosis #3
- Diagnosis #3 ICD Code
- Diagnosis #3 Date of diagnosis
- Does the Veteran have any scars on the trunk or extremities (regions other than the head, face, or neck)?
- Does the Veteran have any scars or disfigurement of the head, face, or neck?
SCARS OF THE TRUNK AND EXTREMITIES (Section II)
- A. Describe the history (including cause/origin and course) of the Veteran's scar(s) of the trunk or extremities (brief summary):
- B. Are any of the scars of the trunk or extremities painful?
- If yes, specify the number of painful scars: 1 2 3 4 5 or more
- Describe the pain (if there are multiple painful scars, be sure to adequately identify which scars are painful):
- C. Are any of the scars of the trunk or extremities unstable, with frequent loss of covering of skin over the scar?
- If yes, specify the number of unstable scars: 1 2 3 4 5 or more
- Describe the loss of covering of skin over the scar (if there are multiple unstable scars, be sure to adequately identify which scars are unstable):
- D. Are any of the scars of the trunk or extremities due to burns?
- Burn scar #1: Full thickness or sub-dermal / Deep partial thickness / Less than deep partial thickness
- Burn scar #2: Full thickness or sub-dermal / Deep partial thickness / Less than deep partial thickness
SCARS OR OTHER DISFIGUREMENT OF THE HEAD, FACE OR NECK (Section III)
- A. Describe the history (including cause/origin and course) of the Veteran's scar(s) or other disfigurement of the head, face or neck (brief summary):
- B. Are any of the scars of the head, face or neck painful?
- If yes, specify the number of painful scars: 1 2 3 4 5 or more
- Describe the pain (if there are multiple painful scars, be sure to adequately identify which scars are painful):
- C. Are any of the scars of the head, face or neck unstable, with frequent loss of covering of skin over the scar?
- If yes, specify the number of unstable scars: 1 2 3 4 5 or more
- Describe the loss of covering of skin over the scar (if there are multiple unstable scars, be sure to adequately identify which scars are unstable):
- D. Are any of the scars of the head, face or neck due to burns?
- Burn scar #1: Full thickness or sub-dermal / Deep partial thickness / Less than deep partial thickness
- Burn scar #2: Full thickness or sub-dermal / Deep partial thickness / Less than deep partial thickness
MISCELLANEOUS (Section IV)
- A. Do any of the scars (regardless of location) or disfigurement of the head, face or neck result in limitation of function (to include limitation of motion)?
- If yes, indicate which scars (regardless of location) or disfigurement of the head, face or neck are causing the limitation and describe the specific limitations:
- B. Does the Veteran have any other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs and/or symptoms (such as muscle or nerve damage) associated with any scar (regardless of location) or disfigurement of the head, face or neck?
- If yes, describe (brief summary):
- C. Comments (if any):
- Were color photographs for any scar(s) or disfiguring condition taken?
- Does the Veteran's scar(s) (regardless of location) or disfigurement of the head, face or neck impact his or her ability to work?
- If yes, describe impact of the Veteran's scar(s) (regardless of location) or disfigurement of the head, face or neck, providing one or more examples:
- Remarks (if any – please identify the section to which the remark pertains when appropriate).
Rating Levels for DC 7800
The following tiers are reproduced from 38 CFR Part 4, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Toggle between the official VA criteria and a Plain English explanation.
Plain-English summaries are AI-generated to explain the official criteria. The official 38 CFR language is the binding legal standard. When in doubt, ask a VSO.
Evidence cited in published BVA decisions for DC 7800
The counts below are aggregated from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Each row reports how often a given evidence type was discussed in the decision text, broken down by outcome. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not a prediction or recommendation about any specific claim.
- VA examination: appeared in 4 granted decisions (3 denied, 4 remanded; 11 total)
- Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 4 granted decisions (1 denied, 1 remanded; 6 total)
- Private medical opinion: appeared in 1 granted decision (0 denied, 1 remanded; 2 total)
- Service treatment records: appeared in 0 granted decisions (0 denied, 1 remanded; 1 total)
- Medical literature: appeared in 0 granted decisions (0 denied, 1 remanded; 1 total)
- Nexus letter: appeared in 0 granted decisions (0 denied, 1 remanded; 1 total)
What the Board discussed in granted decisions for DC 7800
The themes below were extracted by clustering 500 grant-factor sentences from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Frequencies indicate how often each theme appeared in the sample. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not advice or strategy for any specific claim.
- 22% Benefit of the doubt doctrine cited in denialThe Board noted that because the preponderance of evidence weighed against the claim, the benefit of the doubt doctrine was inapplicable and the claim was denied.112 of 500 sample sentences
- 20% Benefit of the doubt applied to grant or increase ratingThe Board resolved the benefit of the doubt in the Veteran's favor and found the evidence supported granting service connection or assigning a specific higher disability rating.98 of 500 sample sentences
- 17% Evidence in equipoise or approximate balance notedThe Board found the positive and negative evidence was at least in relative equipoise or approximate balance on a material issue, triggering application of the benefit of the doubt rule.87 of 500 sample sentences
- 13% Legal standard for benefit of the doubt doctrine statedThe Board or decision cited the statutory or regulatory standard providing that when evidence is in approximate balance on any material issue, the benefit of the doubt is given to the claimant.64 of 500 sample sentences
- 13% Medical nexus opinion of at least as likely as not citedAn examiner or medical professional opined that a Veteran's current disability was at least as likely as not caused by, related to, or aggravated by an in-service injury, event, or disease.63 of 500 sample sentences
- 5% Scar-specific rating finding cited under diagnostic codeThe Board recorded a finding that a particular scar disability — including facial, head, neck, or other scars — warranted a specific disability rating under a relevant diagnostic code after resolving the evidence.26 of 500 sample sentences
- 4% Examiner request for at least-as-likely-as-not opinion notedThe Board or remand order recorded a request directing an examiner to provide an opinion on whether a disability was at least as likely as not related to service or a service-connected condition.19 of 500 sample sentences
- 3% Negative or unfavorable nexus opinion recordedAn examiner opined that a claimed disability was not at least as likely as not related to service, a service-connected condition, or an in-service event, weighing against the claim.14 of 500 sample sentences
- 2% TDIU or unemployability finding notedThe Board recorded a finding, after applying the benefit of the doubt or weighing the evidence, that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded substantially gainful employment warranting TDIU.12 of 500 sample sentences
- 1% Benefit of the doubt consideration acknowledged without outcome changeThe Board acknowledged it considered the benefit of the doubt doctrine in reaching its conclusions but did not identify it as dispositive to the outcome.5 of 500 sample sentences
Disclaimer: This page reproduces public Department of Veterans Affairs forms (DBQs) and verbatim text from 38 CFR Part 4 (the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities). It is informational only and is not legal or medical advice. For guidance on a specific claim, contact a VA-accredited representative.