VA Diagnostic Code 6518Laryngectomy, total.
A single 100% rating under § 4.97. Here is what the VA requires for it.
Not the right code?
Summary
Rate the residuals of partial laryngectomy as laryngitis (DC 6516), aphonia (DC 6519), or stenosis of larynx (DC 6520).
What each rating requires
The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.
- 100%
Laryngectomy, total.
Total Laryngectomy (VA Diagnostic Code 6518)
Understanding This Condition
A total laryngectomy is the complete surgical removal of the larynx (voice box). Because this is a significant change to the respiratory system, the VA addresses it under Diagnostic Code 6518, found in 38 CFR § 4.97, which covers conditions of the Respiratory System.
Available Rating Level
Under Diagnostic Code 6518, there is a single rating level:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Total laryngectomy |
A total laryngectomy is assigned a 100% disability rating.
What the VA Looks For
- Total laryngectomy is rated at 100% under Diagnostic Code 6518.
- The residuals of a partial laryngectomy are rated differently. Rather than using this code, the VA evaluates those residuals as one of the following, depending on how the condition presents:
- Laryngitis — Diagnostic Code 6516
- Aphonia (loss of voice) — Diagnostic Code 6519
- Stenosis of the larynx (narrowing) — Diagnostic Code 6520
In short, the distinction the VA makes is between a total laryngectomy (rated at 100% under DC 6518) and a partial laryngectomy (rated according to its specific residuals under the codes listed above).
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.97, diagnostic code 6518. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.
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Name the gap
Look at the rung above yours and write down exactly what it asks for that your file does not show yet — a diagnosis, a measurement, a prescribed brace, a doctor’s opinion linking it to service.
Claim it by code
File under diagnostic code 6518 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Respiratory System codes may cover your secondary conditions.
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