Scars and disfigurement of the head, face, or neck are rated under diagnostic code 7800: 10 percent for one characteristic of disfigurement, 30 percent for visible or palpable tissue loss with gross distortion of one feature or two to three characteristics, 50 percent for distortion of two features or four to five characteristics, and 80 percent for distortion of three features or six or more characteristics.
Painful scars are rated under diagnostic code 7804 at 10, 20, or 30 percent based on the number of scars that are painful or unstable.
Scars not on the head, face, or neck are rated by area: deep nonlinear scars (associated with underlying soft tissue damage) under diagnostic code 7801 from 10 percent (at least 6 square inches) to 40 percent (144 square inches or greater), and superficial nonlinear scars under 7802 at 10 percent for 144 square inches or greater. Painful or unstable scars rate separately under 7804, and any function the scar limits is rated under 7805.