Scars With Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck) at 20% VA Disability Rating

Data last updated September 23, 2026

Total affected area of at least 12 but under 72 square inches (77–465 sq. cm.).

20% combined rating: single veteran, no dependents

$356.66

$4,279.92/year · tax-free · effective December 1, 2025

VA pays on the combined rating, not per condition: this is the amount when 20% is the veteran's combined rating, after all separate ratings are combined under 38 CFR 4.25.

The full 20% pay chart, with dependents Combine this rating with others

VA Rating Criteria for 20%

Area or areas of at least 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.) but less than 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.)

20% Pay by Household (2026)

Monthly compensation at a 20% combined rating. Additional compensation for dependents starts at a combined rating of 30% (38 U.S.C. § 1115), so below that the single rate applies whatever the household.

Single (no dependents)

$356.66

Lower tier

10% Scars With Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck)

$180.42 /mo single

Higher tier

30% Scars With Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck)

$552.47 /mo single

Common questions about 20% for Scars With Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck)

How much does a 20% VA rating for Scars With Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck) pay?

VA pays on the combined rating, not per condition: this is the amount when 20% is the veteran's combined rating, after all separate ratings are combined under 38 CFR 4.25. At a 20% combined rating, a single veteran receives $356.66 per month ($4,279.92/year) under the 2026 VA rates, effective December 1, 2025. VA disability compensation is tax-free. Additional compensation for dependents starts at a combined rating of 30% (38 U.S.C. § 1115), so below that the single rate applies whatever the household.

What does it take to get a 20% rating for Scars With Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck)?

Area or areas of at least 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.) but less than 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.)

What's the difference between 20% and 30% for Scars With Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck)?

20%: Area or areas of at least 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.) but less than 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.) 30%: Area or areas of at least 72 square inches (465 sq. cm.) but less than 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.)

Can a secondary condition raise my rating above 20%?

Yes, up to 100%. A condition service-connected as secondary to Scars With Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck) gets its own rating, which VA combines with your other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25, so your combined rating can end up higher than 20%.

Official sources

38 CFR § 4.118, Schedule of ratings, skin conditions (Diagnostic Code 7801)
VA.gov, 2026 veteran disability compensation rates, effective December 1, 2025

Pay amounts on this page were last checked against VA.gov on September 22, 2026.

How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.

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Full VASRD criteria, best evidence, exam pitfalls, and secondary conditions for Scars With Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck) are on the main condition page.

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