C&P Exam for Scars, other; and other effects of scars evaluated under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7804 (DC 7805)

For scars, other; and other effects of scars evaluated under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7804 (DC 7805), 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.

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.

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 13 granted decisions (9 denied, 12 remanded; 34 total)
• Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 4 granted decisions (1 denied, 2 remanded; 7 total)
• Private medical opinion: appeared in 2 granted decisions (2 denied, 2 remanded; 6 total)
• Service treatment records: appeared in 0 granted decisions (1 denied, 2 remanded; 3 total)
• Nexus letter: appeared in 0 granted decisions (1 denied, 1 remanded; 2 total)

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.

1. 27% Benefit of the doubt doctrine inapplicable, preponderance against claim
   The Board noted that because the preponderance of the evidence weighed against the claim, the benefit of the doubt doctrine was found inapplicable and the claim was denied.
   134 of 500 sample sentences
2. 22% Benefit of the doubt standard and equipoise rule stated
   The Board cited the legal standard that when positive and negative evidence is in approximate balance or relative equipoise, the benefit of the doubt is resolved in the claimant's favor.
   112 of 500 sample sentences
3. 16% Benefit of the doubt applied, rating or service connection granted
   The Board recorded that after affording the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, a specific disability rating or service connection was found warranted for the period on appeal.
   81 of 500 sample sentences
4. 12% Evidence found at least in equipoise supporting grant
   The Board found the evidence was at least in relative equipoise on a material question, resulting in the Veteran prevailing on that issue.
   62 of 500 sample sentences
5. 11% VA or private examiner nexus opinion noted as at least as likely as not
   A VA or private medical examiner opined that a current disability was at least as likely as not incurred in, caused by, or related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
   57 of 500 sample sentences
6. 3% Scar-specific painful or unstable finding cited for rating
   The Board noted findings that a specific scar was painful, tender, or unstable, and applied the benefit of the doubt to support a compensable rating under the applicable scar diagnostic code.
   16 of 500 sample sentences
7. 3% Negative nexus or examiner opinion cited against claim
   A VA examiner opined that the Veteran's disability was not at least as likely as not related to service or a service-connected condition, weighing against the claim.
   14 of 500 sample sentences
8. 3% Board noted benefit of the doubt considered in reaching conclusions
   The Board recorded that it had considered the applicability of the benefit of the doubt doctrine in reaching its conclusions, without further elaboration on its outcome.
   14 of 500 sample sentences
9. 2% Equipoise or doubt resolved in favor for TDIU or unemployability finding
   The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded substantially gainful employment, resolving doubt in the Veteran's favor.
   8 of 500 sample sentences
10. 0% Benefit of the doubt applied to symptom attribution or continuity
    The Board recorded that the benefit of the doubt was applied to attribute symptoms, continuity of disability, or specific manifestations to a service-connected condition.
    2 of 500 sample sentences