Dental and Oral Conditions§ 4.150Updated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 9903Mandible, nonunion of, confirmed by diagnostic imaging studies

Rated from 10% to 30% under § 4.150. Here is what the VA requires at each level.

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What each rating requires

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  1. 30%

    Severe, with false motion

  2. 10%

    Moderate, without false motion

From the schedule

Notes on this code

These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.

  • Note (1): For VA compensation purposes, diagnostic imaging studies include, but are not limited to, conventional radiography (X-ray), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), radionuclide bone scanning, or ultrasonography
  • Note (2): Separately evaluate loss of vocal articulation, loss of smell, loss of taste, neurological impairment, respiratory dysfunction, and other impairments under the appropriate diagnostic code and combine under § 4.25 for each separately rated condition

Nonunion of the Mandible (Diagnostic Code 9903)

Understanding a Nonunion of the Mandible

The mandible is the lower jawbone. A nonunion occurs when a fracture or break in the mandible fails to heal and knit back together as it should. Under the VA rating schedule, this condition is rated when it is confirmed by diagnostic imaging studies.

This condition falls under the VA's Dental and Oral Conditions body system and is addressed in § 4.150 of the rating schedule.

How Nonunion of the Mandible Is Confirmed

For VA compensation purposes, diagnostic imaging studies used to confirm a nonunion include, but are not limited to:

  • Conventional radiography (X-ray)
  • Computed tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Positron emission tomography (PET)
  • Radionuclide bone scanning
  • Ultrasonography

Available Rating Levels

The VA assigns a disability rating for a nonunion of the mandible based on its severity, including whether "false motion" is present. False motion refers to abnormal movement at the site where the bone has failed to heal.

RatingWhat It Reflects
30%Severe, with false motion
10%Moderate, without false motion

What the VA Looks For

When evaluating a nonunion of the mandible, the VA considers:

  • Confirmation by diagnostic imaging. The nonunion must be established through one or more of the imaging studies described above.
  • Severity of the condition. The VA distinguishes between a moderate nonunion (rated at 10%) and a severe nonunion (rated at 30%).
  • Presence of false motion. A key factor separating the two rating levels is whether false motion is present at the site of the nonunion. A severe nonunion with false motion supports the higher rating, while a moderate nonunion without false motion corresponds to the lower rating.

Related Impairments Rated Separately

The VA notes that certain related impairments are evaluated separately under their own appropriate diagnostic codes and then combined under § 4.25 for each separately rated condition. These may include:

  • Loss of vocal articulation
  • Loss of smell
  • Loss of taste
  • Neurological impairment
  • Respiratory dysfunction
  • Other impairments

This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule entry for Diagnostic Code 9903 (§ 4.150). It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.150, diagnostic code 9903. The official version is the one that governs your rating.

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What next

How to claim this

Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.

  1. Find your level in the stack

    Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.

  2. 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.

  3. Claim it by code

    File under diagnostic code 9903 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Dental and Oral Conditions codes may cover your secondary conditions.

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