Dental and oral system · 38 CFR 4.150
Dental and Oral Conditions and VA Disability
Dental claims have two paths, and they are easy to confuse. The VA pays compensation for structural damage to the jaw and mouth, like bone loss or a jaw-joint disorder. Routine missing teeth and gum disease are usually not paid, but they can still qualify you for VA dental care. This page explains the difference.
Patriot Path handles the medical side of these claims. Our physicians write the nexus letters and independent medical opinions that connect a jaw or mouth condition to your service. The fee is a flat $1,500, and the first consultation is free.
Medically reviewed by the Patriot Path Medical Team
Licensed MD reviewers • Last updated: June 2026
Conditions in this system
These are the dental and oral conditions the VA can rate. Full guides are on the way.
- Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)Guide in progress
A jaw-joint disorder that limits how far you can open and chew. Rated on your mouth opening and side-to-side motion.
DC 9905
- Loss of teeth from bone lossGuide in progress
Tooth loss caused by lost jawbone from injury or disease, not from gum disease. Rated on what cannot be fixed with dentures.
DC 9913
- Loss of part of the mandibleGuide in progress
Loss of part of the lower jaw. Rated on the extent and whether dentures can restore it.
DC 9902
- Loss of the mandibleGuide in progress
Complete loss of the lower jaw between the angles. Rated at 100 percent.
DC 9901
- Loss of part of the maxillaGuide in progress
Loss of part of the upper jaw. Rated on the percentage lost and whether it can be restored.
DC 9915
- Loss of half the maxillaGuide in progress
Loss of more than half the upper jaw. Rated at 50 or 100 percent.
DC 9914
How the VA rates dental and oral conditions
The VA rates structural damage to the jaw and mouth under 38 CFR 4.150. That means loss of the upper or lower jawbone, a jaw-joint disorder, loss of the hard palate, and tooth loss caused by lost bone from injury or disease. The rating tracks how much function you lost and whether it can be restored.
Here is the part that trips people up. Replaceable missing teeth and ordinary gum disease are not paid as disabilities. The VA treats those as treatable, not as lasting damage. So a veteran can lose teeth and still not receive compensation if the cause was gum disease rather than bone loss.
But those same conditions can still earn you VA dental care. Service-connected dental problems, former prisoner-of-war status, and certain other situations qualify you for treatment even when they are not paid as a rating. The compensation path and the treatment path are separate.
Connecting a dental or oral condition to service
There are a few ways to tie a dental or oral condition to your service:
- Direct. The damage came from an in-service injury or disease. Jaw trauma, a documented injury, or surgery in your records helps establish it.
- Treatment eligibility. Some dental conditions are not paid but still qualify you for VA dental care (38 CFR 3.381). In-service dental trauma and former prisoner-of-war status are common paths.
- Secondary. Another service-connected condition caused or worsened it (38 CFR 3.310). A jaw problem that follows a service-connected head injury is one example.
For a direct or secondary claim, the VA needs a current diagnosis, an in-service cause, and a medical opinion linking them (38 CFR 3.303). That opinion has to clear the “at least as likely as not” standard, a 50 percent or better chance. That standard is the benefit-of-the-doubt rule under 38 U.S.C. 5107(b), carried out in 38 CFR 3.102. A nexus letter is that linking opinion.
Frequently asked questions
Does the VA pay for missing teeth?
Usually not. Replaceable missing teeth and ordinary gum disease are treated as dental conditions you can fix, not as lasting disabilities. The VA pays compensation when teeth are lost because of lost jawbone from an injury or disease, rated under Diagnostic Code 9913.
What dental conditions does the VA rate?
Structural damage to the jaw and mouth. That includes loss of the upper or lower jaw, a temporomandibular disorder, loss of the hard palate, and tooth loss from bone loss. These are rated under 38 CFR 4.150 on how much function you lost.
Can I get VA dental care even if it is not paid?
Often yes. Service-connected dental trauma, former prisoner-of-war status, and certain other situations qualify you for VA dental treatment under 38 CFR 3.381, even when the condition is not paid as a rating. The treatment path is separate from the compensation path.
How is TMJ rated by the VA?
A temporomandibular disorder is rated under Diagnostic Code 9905. The rating is based on how far you can open your mouth and your side-to-side jaw motion, plus any diet restriction. The more limited your jaw, the higher the rating.
Do I need a nexus letter for a dental claim?
For a compensable jaw or mouth condition claimed as service-connected, usually yes. The VA needs a diagnosis, an in-service cause, and a medical opinion linking them. A nexus letter is that opinion.
A jaw or mouth injury from service?
Tell us what you are dealing with. The first consultation is free, and we will tell you straight whether a nexus letter can strengthen your claim.
Sources & regulatory references
- VA disability compensation (VA.gov) https://www.va.gov/disability/
- 38 CFR 4.150, Schedule of ratings, dental and oral conditions (eCFR) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.150
- 38 CFR 3.381, Service connection of dental conditions for treatment purposes (eCFR) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-3.381
- 38 CFR 3.310, Secondary service connection (eCFR) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-3.310
- 38 U.S.C. 5107, Benefit of the doubt (Cornell LII) https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38/5107
- VA dental care eligibility (VA.gov) https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/dental-care/