C&P Exam for Burn scar or scar due to other causes, not of the head, face, or neck, that are not associated with underlying soft tissue damage (DC 7802)
Which form the examiner uses
For burn scar or scar due to other causes, not of the head, face, or neck, that are not associated with underlying soft tissue damage (DC 7802), 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 to expect at your C&P exam
A scar exam is a measurement exam. The examiner measures and counts your scars, checks whether they are painful or unstable, and photographs them, then rates them under 38 CFR 4.118.
1Initial interview (history)
- How and when the scars formed (injury, surgery, or burns).
- Whether they are painful, and how often.
- Whether the skin breaks open or is unstable.
- How they limit movement or function, and the effect on daily life.
2Physical examination
- Measuring the length and width (or area) of each scar.
- Counting how many scars there are and noting their location.
- Checking whether each scar is painful, unstable (the skin breaks down), deep, or limits motion.
- For head, face, or neck scars, checking the eight features of disfigurement.
- Photographing the scars.
3Functional assessment
- Whether scars are painful or unstable, how many there are, and their total size, which set the rating.
- Whether a scar limits the motion of a nearby joint or otherwise affects function.
- Findings map to the tiers in 38 CFR 4.118 (scar DCs 7800, 7801, 7802, 7804, 7805).
Test explainers open MedlinePlus (NIH National Library of Medicine), or Wikipedia where MedlinePlus has no matching page. This describes what happens and what is measured, not how to influence a result.
What the examiner records (full DBQ form)
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 7802 maps to this DBQ: for this diagnostic code specifically, the examiner typically completes sections I-II and IV of this form. Section II is the condition-specific section for this code. Section III 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 7802
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 7802
The counts below are aggregated from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code, among issues the Board granted or denied (remanded issues are not included). 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 20 granted decisions (91 denied; 111 decided total)
- Service treatment records: appeared in 19 granted decisions (73 denied; 92 decided total)
- Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 12 granted decisions (50 denied; 62 decided total)
- Private medical opinion: appeared in 8 granted decisions (29 denied; 37 decided total)
- Nexus letter: appeared in 4 granted decisions (2 denied; 6 decided total)
- Medical literature: appeared in 1 granted decision (1 denied; 2 decided total)
What the Board discussed in granted decisions for DC 7802
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.
- 32% Benefit of the doubt doctrine noted as inapplicableThe Board recorded that because the preponderance of evidence weighed against the claim, the benefit of the doubt doctrine was not applicable and the claim was denied.162 of 500 sample sentences
- 19% Benefit of the doubt legal standard citedThe Board or decision cited the statutory and regulatory standard requiring VA to give the benefit of the doubt to the claimant when evidence is in approximate balance.97 of 500 sample sentences
- 17% Benefit of the doubt resolved in veteran's favor, claim grantedThe Board recorded that because the evidence was in relative equipoise or approximate balance, the benefit of the doubt was resolved in the veteran's favor and the claim or increased rating was granted.84 of 500 sample sentences
- 14% Medical nexus opinion cited as 'at least as likely as not'A VA or private examiner opined that the veteran's disability was at least as likely as not caused by, incurred in, or related to active military service or a service-connected condition.71 of 500 sample sentences
- 10% Evidence found in equipoise on specific rating or claim issueThe Board found the lay and medical evidence to be at least in relative equipoise on a specific question of service connection, increased rating, or scar painfulness.52 of 500 sample sentences
- 4% Scar painfulness or instability noted as basis for compensable ratingThe Board found, often affording the benefit of the doubt, that the veteran's scar or scars were painful or unstable, warranting a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.18 of 500 sample sentences
- 2% Examiner remand instructions on 'at least as likely as not' standardThe Board or remand order recorded instructions to the examining clinician defining the 'at least as likely as not' standard as requiring evenly divided medical evidence, not mere possibility.10 of 500 sample sentences
- 1% Probative evidence noted as supporting specific disability rating levelThe Board recorded that the competent and probative medical and lay evidence of record supported a finding that the veteran's disability more nearly approximated a specific schedular rating percentage.6 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.