Can You Get VA Disability for Scars?

Scars and burns are the sixth most common disability among veterans, affecting more than one million American men and women. Depending on the severity and location of your scars, you may qualify for monthly VA disability compensation.
The VA’s disability rating criteria for scars takes into account several factors including the size and shape of your scars, how deep they are, how much pain is associated with them, what areas of the body are affected, and if they limit the your range of motion. If your scars lead to other limiting conditions, you may be eligible for additional compensation. For example, if your scar tissue interferes with your sight, you may qualify for a rating that combines your scarring and loss of vision.
The VA’s grading system for scars can be confusing, because they actually use two systems superimposed upon each other. One system evaluates the condition of the scar itself. The second-known as “characteristics of disfigurement”-examines the disfiguring effects of the scarring. The VA has defined eight characteristics of disfigurement. The more characteristics of disfigurement you have, the higher your disability rating will be.
Where your scars are also will affect your VA disability rating. For example, scarring on your face will qualify for a higher disability rating than scars on your lower back. Multiple scars spread out over several areas of your body will also likely qualify you for a higher disability rating, but multiple scars on the same part of your body probably won’t.
Like all claims for VA disability you must prove a service connection-you need to show that your scarring is connected to your military service. You have this connection if an incident or event that took place during your service caused the scars.
If your VA disability claim has been denied, the team at Cuddigan Law can help. Call or email us for a free evaluation of your case. We’re here to fight for your rights and we’re only a phone call away.

[@jamesmanuel9938]

I have scars that they said are at 0%. Scars are related to my service-connected Back issues aka Disc and Spinal Fusion surgeries. Five out of the seven scars, I have zero feelings in my lower back. Maybe I need to apply this as a secondary claim?

[@2greedy905]

What about disfigured bones resulting from surgery? ... Sometimes the bones may have lumps that you can feel along the scar(s) or the scars may develop keloids...

[@lrobertsjr1982]

Good morning. I have a question. Im a 17-year Army veteran who was medically retired in June of 2021 and awarded 100% Total and Permanent Disabled. In 2004, I deployed to Mosul Iraq on or around the end of Sept that year. Months later, on December 21st, 2004, a suicide bomber snuck into our DFAC, and he ignited a button about 6 ft away from me. The blast knocked my battle buddy unconscious, and the soldiers next to me were KIA. At that time, i had no clue i had a tiny shrapnel in my forehead, which revealed a scar above my left eye. When we came back from Iraq, i was never treated for it, nor was i ever screened for injuries. Keep in mind that this was my first three years on Active Duty. This led to my ETS on 15 July 2006. I arrived at SEATAC airport to check in and go thru TSA for pre check. Long story short. I removed my watch, coins belt and dog tags, etc, into a small bowl in order to enter thru check-in. The alarm went off, and thats when the TSA team waved a WAN over my forehead, and thats when they discovered a tiny metal in my head. I told I deployed and returned from Iraq, and that is when I was allowed to board the plane but was instructed to have the surgery to remove shrapnel. The VA conducted the surgery, and the doctor noted that there were no signs of shrapnel. I disputed this for years and was denied a rating for residual scar from shrapnel, though the evidence is there, but the doctors wouldn't go further. My question is do i resubmit a claim or appeal for denied rating for residual scar from shrapnel though the only supporting documents i have is memorandum of being awarded Combat Action Badge for being engaged by the enemy and my DD214s from that deployment and my last DD214 shows on there Combat Related Disability. Thank you for your time and help.

[@jackjohnson8244]

Do you still set off a metal detector due to the shrap? Since the doctor says they didn't find it, you may want to get scanned again because maybe he missed it.
As for the claim, you can get a buddy letter making a statement on what happened that day, that could help your case.