Scars on the body that affect only the skin surface without deeper tissue damage.
To support a 10% rating, evidence needs to show that your scar or scars cover 144 square inches or more within a single body zone, or that the areas across multiple zones meet that threshold when counted together. Medical records that document the size and location of each scar are central. A VA or private examination that measures scar dimensions and maps which body zone or zones are affected directly addresses the rating criteria. Photographs showing the extent and location of the scars can help confirm what the records describe.
Because this code applies only to scars without underlying soft tissue damage, records that distinguish the scars as superficial — rather than scars involving deeper tissue — are also relevant. If your scars span more than one zone of the body, documentation that clearly identifies which zone each scar falls in helps VA apply the per-zone evaluation. Your own statements describing the visible area the scars cover on your body can support and give context to clinical measurements.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
