Veterans must prove their scars hurt, even if a doctor already said so

The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to clarify that veterans must provide objective proof of pain to receive disability benefits for painful scars. This means a doctor's statement that a scar is painful will no longer be enough on its own.

For veterans with painful scars, getting disability benefits just got harder. The VA is tightening its rules, requiring more than just a medical diagnosis of pain. This change could mean more paperwork and potentially fewer approved claims for a condition that is often subjective.