VA Diagnostic Code 9913Teeth, loss of, due to loss of substance of body of maxilla or mandible without loss of continuity
Rated from 0% to 40% under § 4.150. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 40%
Where the lost masticatory surface cannot be restored by suitable prosthesis: Loss of all teeth
- 30%
Where the lost masticatory surface cannot be restored by suitable prosthesis: Loss of all upper teeth
- 30%
Where the lost masticatory surface cannot be restored by suitable prosthesis: Loss of all lower teeth
- 20%
Where the lost masticatory surface cannot be restored by suitable prosthesis: All upper and lower posterior teeth missing
- 20%
Where the lost masticatory surface cannot be restored by suitable prosthesis: All upper and lower anterior teeth missing
- 10%
Where the lost masticatory surface cannot be restored by suitable prosthesis: All upper anterior teeth missing
- 10%
Where the lost masticatory surface cannot be restored by suitable prosthesis: All lower anterior teeth missing
- 10%
Where the lost masticatory surface cannot be restored by suitable prosthesis: All upper and lower teeth on one side missing
- 0%
Where the loss of masticatory surface can be restored by suitable prosthesis
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—These ratings apply only to bone loss through trauma or disease such as osteomyelitis, and not to the loss of the alveolar process as a result of periodontal disease, since such loss is not considered disabling
Loss of Teeth Due to Bone Loss (Maxilla or Mandible)
VA Diagnostic Code 9913 — Dental and Oral Conditions (§ 4.150)
What This Condition Is
This rating covers the loss of teeth caused by loss of substance in the body of the upper jaw (maxilla) or lower jaw (mandible), without loss of continuity of the bone.
Importantly, these ratings apply only to bone loss through trauma or disease such as osteomyelitis. They do not apply to the loss of the alveolar process as a result of periodontal disease, since such loss is not considered disabling.
How the VA Rates It
A central factor in this rating is whether the lost masticatory (chewing) surface can be restored by a suitable prosthesis. Ratings above 0% apply specifically where the lost masticatory surface cannot be restored by a suitable prosthesis. Where the loss of masticatory surface can be restored by a suitable prosthesis, the condition is rated at 0%.
Rating Levels
The following ratings apply where the lost masticatory surface cannot be restored by a suitable prosthesis:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 40% | Loss of all teeth |
| 30% | Loss of all upper teeth |
| 30% | Loss of all lower teeth |
| 20% | All upper and lower posterior teeth missing |
| 20% | All upper and lower anterior teeth missing |
| 10% | All upper anterior teeth missing |
| 10% | All lower anterior teeth missing |
| 10% | All upper and lower teeth on one side missing |
| 0% | Where the loss of masticatory surface can be restored by a suitable prosthesis |
What the VA Looks For
- Whether a suitable prosthesis can restore the lost masticatory surface. This distinction determines whether a compensable rating applies.
- The extent and location of tooth loss — for example, all teeth, all upper or all lower teeth, posterior versus anterior teeth, or all teeth on one side.
- The cause of the bone loss. Ratings apply to bone loss through trauma or disease such as osteomyelitis, not to loss of the alveolar process from periodontal disease.
Notes to Keep in Mind
- Diagnostic imaging (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.
- Related impairments (Note 2): Loss of vocal articulation, loss of smell, loss of taste, neurological impairment, respiratory dysfunction, and other impairments are evaluated separately under the appropriate diagnostic code and combined under § 4.25 for each separately rated condition.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.150, diagnostic code 9913. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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