Bottom Line Up Front: Most veterans assume “cancer equals 100%.” For melanoma, that is wrong. Diagnostic Code 7828 does not grant an automatic 100% rating during active treatment the way prostate cancer (DC 7528) or bladder cancer does. Instead, the VA rates melanoma based on what it leaves behind — scars, disfigurement, and functional impairment. That means the rating strategy is completely different from other cancers. This guide explains how DC 7828 actually works, what rating percentages are realistically available, how the PACT Act creates a presumptive shortcut, and what documentation you need before your C&P exam.

In This Article

How DC 7828 Actually Works

Malignant melanoma is rated under 38 CFR § 4.118, Diagnostic Code 7828. The regulatory text is short and specific:

“Malignant melanoma: Rate as scars (DC’s 7801, 7802, 7803, 7804, or 7805), disfigurement of the head, face, or neck (DC 7800), or impairment of function (under the appropriate body system).”

That single sentence controls the entire rating framework. There is no general rating formula with fixed percentages (0%/10%/30%/60%) like you see for eczema or psoriasis under DC 7816. There is no automatic 100% during active treatment. DC 7828 directs the rater to evaluate melanoma through three specific lenses: scars, disfigurement, or functional impairment.

This distinction matters enormously for claim strategy. If you walk into a C&P exam expecting a cancer-based rating and the examiner only evaluates your scars, you will be underrated. If you document your residuals correctly, you can stack multiple diagnostic codes and build a combined rating far higher than the initial scar evaluation alone.

The Misconception: Cancer Does Not Always Mean 100%

Critical Correction: Many advocacy sources incorrectly state that melanoma is rated under the “general rating formula for skin conditions” (DC 7816) with tiers at 0%, 10%, 30%, and 60%. This is wrong. DC 7828 explicitly directs rating as scars, disfigurement, or functional impairment — not under the general formula. Filing a claim based on incorrect rating criteria wastes time and leads to lower ratings.

Several cancer diagnostic codes — like DC 7528 for prostate cancer — grant a temporary 100% rating during active treatment, then reduce the rating based on residuals after treatment ends. Veterans understandably assume melanoma works the same way.

It does not. DC 7828 contains no provision for a temporary 100% rating during treatment. The VA rates melanoma based on what the disease and its treatment leave behind, not on the diagnosis itself. This means your rating depends entirely on how well you document the residual effects.

Three Rating Paths for Melanoma

DC 7828 creates three distinct rating avenues. You are not limited to one — if your melanoma produced scars and functional impairment, you can receive separate ratings under each path as long as the symptoms being compensated do not overlap (per the anti-pyramiding rule in 38 CFR § 4.14).

Rating Path Diagnostic Code What It Covers Rating Range
Scars DC 7801–7805 Surgical scars from excision, biopsy, lymph node removal 10%–40%
Disfigurement DC 7800 Scars on head, face, or neck with disfiguring characteristics 10%–80%
Functional Impairment Varies by body system Lymphedema, neuropathy, range-of-motion loss, organ damage Varies

Scar Rating Breakdown (DC 7800–7805)

Most melanoma treatment involves surgery — biopsy, wide local excision, and possibly sentinel lymph node biopsy or lymph node dissection. Each procedure leaves scars, and each scar is ratable.

DC 7801 — Deep Nonlinear Scars (Not Head/Face/Neck)

AreaRating
At least 6 sq in (39 sq cm)10%
At least 12 sq in (77 sq cm)20%
At least 72 sq in (465 sq cm)30%
At least 144 sq in (929 sq cm)40%

DC 7802 — Superficial Nonlinear Scars (Not Head/Face/Neck)

Rated at 10% for scars covering 929 sq cm (144 sq in) or greater. Smaller superficial scars receive 0% (noncompensable).

DC 7804 — Painful or Unstable Scars

Number of Qualifying ScarsRating
1 or 2 painful/unstable scars10%
3 or 4 painful/unstable scars20%
5 or more painful/unstable scars30%
Stacking Tip: Under DC 7804 Note 3, painful or unstable scar ratings can be combined with ratings under DC 7800, 7801, 7802, or 7805. A melanoma scar can simultaneously receive a rating for its area/depth under DC 7801 and a separate rating for pain under DC 7804. Count every surgical scar — biopsy site, wide excision site, and lymph node removal site — individually.

DC 7805 — Scars That Limit Function

If a melanoma scar restricts movement or function of the body part where it is located, it is rated under the appropriate body system diagnostic code. For example, a wide excision scar on the shoulder that limits range of motion would be rated under the musculoskeletal codes for the shoulder.

Facial Melanoma and Disfigurement (DC 7800)

If your melanoma was on the head, face, or neck, DC 7800 provides the highest potential scar-based ratings. The rating depends on how many of the “eight characteristics of disfigurement” are present:

Characteristics PresentRating
1 characteristic10%
2 or 3 characteristics30%
4 or 5 characteristics50%
6 or more characteristics80%

The eight characteristics (DC 7800 Note 1) are:

  1. Scar 13+ cm in length
  2. Scar 0.6+ cm wide at widest part
  3. Surface contour elevated or depressed on palpation
  4. Scar adherent to underlying tissue
  5. Skin hypo- or hyper-pigmented in area exceeding 39 sq cm
  6. Skin texture abnormal (irregular, atrophic, shiny, scaly) in area exceeding 39 sq cm
  7. Underlying soft tissue missing in area exceeding 39 sq cm
  8. Skin indurated and inflexible in area exceeding 39 sq cm
Key Point: Under DC 7800 Note 4, pain, instability, and nerve damage from facial melanoma scars are rated separately on top of the disfigurement rating. A veteran with a facial melanoma scar showing 4 characteristics of disfigurement (50%) plus pain (10% under DC 7804) receives both ratings combined.

Functional Impairment Ratings

The third prong of DC 7828 — “impairment of function under the appropriate body system” — opens the door to ratings beyond the scar codes entirely. Melanoma treatment can cause lasting functional damage:

Each functional impairment receives its own rating under the relevant body system, separate from any scar ratings. This is where the combined rating can climb significantly.

PACT Act Presumptive Connection

PACT Act (2022): Melanoma is now a presumptive condition for veterans with qualifying burn pit or toxic exposure during post-9/11 service. This eliminates the single hardest part of any VA claim — proving the nexus between your service and your diagnosis.

Without the PACT Act, a melanoma claim requires a nexus letter from a medical provider explaining how military service caused or contributed to your cancer. With the PACT Act presumption, you only need two things:

  1. A melanoma diagnosis (medical records, pathology report)
  2. Evidence of qualifying exposure (service records showing deployment to a covered location, burn pit registry enrollment)

If you served in Southwest Asia, Africa, or other specified locations during the post-9/11 era and have been diagnosed with melanoma, the PACT Act presumptive is the fastest path to service connection. You do not need a nexus letter. You do not need to prove causation. The law presumes the connection.

What If You Don’t Qualify for the PACT Act Presumptive?

Veterans who do not meet the PACT Act criteria can still file a direct service connection claim. Common service-connected causes of melanoma include:

For direct claims, you will need a nexus letter from a dermatologist or oncologist linking your melanoma to in-service exposure. Medical literature supporting the causal link strengthens the claim.

TDIU: The Path to 100% Compensation

Because DC 7828 does not provide an automatic 100% schedular rating, Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) becomes the primary route to 100% compensation for veterans whose melanoma treatment prevents them from working.

TDIU eligibility requires:

If your melanoma rating alone does not meet the schedular threshold, your combined rating from melanoma plus other service-connected conditions may qualify. Veterans undergoing active melanoma treatment who cannot work should file for TDIU simultaneously with their melanoma claim.

Secondary Conditions

Melanoma and its treatment frequently cause conditions that are ratable separately under 38 CFR § 3.310 (secondary service connection):

Strategy: Every secondary condition receives its own rating and contributes to your combined disability percentage. A veteran with melanoma scars rated at 10%, lymphedema rated at 20%, neuropathy rated at 10%, and depression rated at 30% has a combined rating significantly higher than the scar rating alone. Document every residual effect with your treating providers.

C&P Exam Strategy

The Compensation & Pension exam is where your rating is determined. For melanoma claims, preparation is critical because the examiner needs to evaluate three separate categories of residuals:

Before the Exam

During the Exam

Claim Preparation Checklist

  1. Pathology report confirming melanoma diagnosis, Breslow depth, and staging
  2. Surgical records for every procedure (biopsy, wide excision, lymph node removal, reconstructive surgery)
  3. Treatment records for immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiation (including side effects documented by your oncologist)
  4. Scar measurements with photographs showing size, depth, and characteristics
  5. Service records showing qualifying exposure (for PACT Act claims) or in-service sun/chemical exposure (for direct claims)
  6. Nexus letter (if not filing under PACT Act presumptive)
  7. Buddy statements describing visible disfigurement, functional limitations, and impact on daily life
  8. Mental health records if melanoma has caused or worsened depression, anxiety, or PTSD
  9. Employment records showing inability to work (if filing for TDIU)

Get Your Melanoma Claim Strategy

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the VA disability rating for skin cancer?

VA rates malignant melanoma under DC 7828 based on residual effects — scars (DC 7801–7805), disfigurement of the head/face/neck (DC 7800), or functional impairment under the appropriate body system. There is no single fixed percentage. Most veterans receive 10%–30% for surgical scars, but facial disfigurement can reach 80%, and functional impairment adds separate ratings. TDIU provides 100% compensation when melanoma prevents employment.

Does melanoma get an automatic 100% VA rating during treatment?

No. Unlike prostate cancer (DC 7528) or certain other cancers, DC 7828 does not provide an automatic 100% rating during active melanoma treatment. The VA rates melanoma based on what it leaves behind: scars, disfigurement, and functional impairment. Veterans unable to work during treatment should file for TDIU, which pays at the 100% rate.

Is melanoma a presumptive condition under the PACT Act?

Yes. The PACT Act (2022) added melanoma as a presumptive condition for veterans with qualifying burn pit or toxic exposure during post-9/11 service. This eliminates the need for a nexus letter — you only need a melanoma diagnosis and evidence of qualifying service/exposure.

How are melanoma scars rated?

Melanoma surgical scars are rated under DC 7801–7805 based on size, depth, location, pain, instability, and functional limitation. Multiple scars are counted individually. The codes can be stacked — DC 7801 for area/depth plus DC 7804 for pain — as long as the symptoms being compensated are distinct and non-overlapping (per Esteban v. Brown).

Can I get a higher rating if melanoma was on my face?

Yes. Facial melanoma is rated under DC 7800 (disfigurement of the head, face, or neck), which provides ratings up to 80% based on the eight characteristics of disfigurement. Under DC 7800 Note 4, pain, instability, and nerve damage from facial scars are rated separately on top of the disfigurement rating.