VA Diagnostic Code 9905Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
Rated from 10% to 50% under § 4.150. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 50%
Interincisal range: 0 to 10 millimeters (mm) of maximum unassisted vertical opening. With dietary restrictions to all mechanically altered foods
- 40%
Interincisal range: 0 to 10 millimeters (mm) of maximum unassisted vertical opening. Without dietary restrictions to mechanically altered foods
- 40%
Interincisal range: 11 to 20 mm of maximum unassisted vertical opening. With dietary restrictions to all mechanically altered foods
- 30%
Interincisal range: 11 to 20 mm of maximum unassisted vertical opening. Without dietary restrictions to mechanically altered foods
- 40%
Interincisal range: 21 to 29 mm of maximum unassisted vertical opening. With dietary restrictions to full liquid and pureed foods
- 30%
Interincisal range: 21 to 29 mm of maximum unassisted vertical opening. With dietary restrictions to soft and semi-solid foods
- 20%
Interincisal range: 21 to 29 mm of maximum unassisted vertical opening. Without dietary restrictions to mechanically altered foods
- 30%
Interincisal range: 30 to 34 mm of maximum unassisted vertical opening. With dietary restrictions to full liquid and pureed foods
- 20%
Interincisal range: 30 to 34 mm of maximum unassisted vertical opening. With dietary restrictions to soft and semi-solid foods
- 10%
Interincisal range: 30 to 34 mm of maximum unassisted vertical opening. Without dietary restrictions to mechanically altered foods
- 10%
Lateral excursion range of motion: 0 to 4 mm
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
- Note (1): Ratings for limited interincisal movement shall not be combined with ratings for limited lateral excursion
- Note (2): For VA compensation purposes, the normal maximum unassisted range of vertical jaw opening is from 35 to 50 mm
- Note (3): For VA compensation purposes, mechanically altered foods are defined as altered by blending, chopping, grinding or mashing so that they are easy to chew and swallow. There are four levels of mechanically altered foods: full liquid, puree, soft, and semisolid foods. To warrant elevation based on mechanically altered foods, the use of texture-modified diets must be recorded or verified by a physician
Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) — VA Disability Rating (Diagnostic Code 9905)
Body System: Dental and Oral Conditions Regulation: 38 CFR § 4.150 · Diagnostic Code 9905
What Is Temporomandibular Disorder?
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) affects the jaw joint and the way your jaw moves. Under the VA's rating schedule, TMD is evaluated primarily by measuring how far you can open your jaw and move it side to side, along with any dietary restrictions you may need because of the condition.
The VA measures two types of jaw movement:
- Interincisal range (vertical opening): How far you can open your mouth, measured in millimeters (mm) from top to bottom teeth, without assistance.
- Lateral excursion (side-to-side movement): How far your jaw can move side to side, measured in mm.
For VA compensation purposes, the normal maximum unassisted range of vertical jaw opening is 35 to 50 mm (see Note (2) below).
Available Rating Levels
Ratings are based on your measured range of motion and, in some cases, whether you require a diet of mechanically altered foods. The VA defines mechanically altered foods as foods altered by blending, chopping, grinding, or mashing so they are easy to chew and swallow, across four levels: full liquid, puree, soft, and semisolid.
Ratings Based on Vertical (Interincisal) Opening
| Vertical Opening | Dietary Restriction | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10 mm | With restrictions to all mechanically altered foods | 50% |
| 0–10 mm | Without restrictions to mechanically altered foods | 40% |
| 11–20 mm | With restrictions to all mechanically altered foods | 40% |
| 11–20 mm | Without restrictions to mechanically altered foods | 30% |
| 21–29 mm | With restrictions to full liquid and pureed foods | 40% |
| 21–29 mm | With restrictions to soft and semi-solid foods | 30% |
| 21–29 mm | Without restrictions to mechanically altered foods | 20% |
| 30–34 mm | With restrictions to full liquid and pureed foods | 30% |
| 30–34 mm | With restrictions to soft and semi-solid foods | 20% |
| 30–34 mm | Without restrictions to mechanically altered foods | 10% |
Rating Based on Side-to-Side (Lateral Excursion) Movement
| Lateral Excursion | Rating |
|---|---|
| 0–4 mm | 10% |
What the VA Looks For
When rating TMD, the VA considers:
- Maximum unassisted vertical jaw opening, measured in millimeters.
- Lateral excursion range of motion, measured in millimeters.
- Whether you require a texture-modified diet. To qualify for a rating elevation based on mechanically altered foods, the use of these diets must be recorded or verified by a physician (Note (3)).
- Diagnostic imaging, which for VA purposes may include conventional X-ray, CT, MRI, PET, radionuclide bone scanning, or ultrasonography (Note (1)).
Important Notes
- Ratings for limited interincisal movement are not combined with ratings for limited lateral excursion (Note (1)).
- The normal maximum unassisted vertical jaw opening is 35 to 50 mm (Note (2)).
- Mechanically altered foods are defined across four levels — full liquid, puree, soft, and semisolid — and their use must be recorded or verified by a physician to support elevation of a rating (Note (3)).
- Related impairments are rated separately and combined. Loss of vocal articulation, loss of smell, loss of taste, neurological impairment, respiratory dysfunction, and other impairments are evaluated under the appropriate diagnostic code and combined under § 4.25 (Note (2) of § 4.150).
This information is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the VA rating criteria under 38 CFR § 4.150, Diagnostic Code 9905. It is not legal advice, and individual outcomes depend on the specific facts of each claim.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.150, diagnostic code 9905. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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