VA Diagnostic Code 9914Maxilla, loss of more than half
Rated from 50% to 100% under § 4.150. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 100%
Not replaceable by prosthesis
- 50%
Replaceable by 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
Maxilla, Loss of More Than Half (Diagnostic Code 9914)
VA Dental and Oral Conditions — Rated under 38 CFR § 4.150
Understanding This Condition
The maxilla is the upper jawbone that supports the upper teeth and forms part of the structure of the face and mouth. This rating category applies when more than half of the maxilla has been lost. Because the upper jaw plays a role in eating, speaking, and facial structure, its loss can affect daily functioning in meaningful ways.
Under Diagnostic Code 9914, the VA evaluates this condition based on whether the lost portion of the maxilla can be replaced by a prosthesis.
Available Rating Levels
The VA uses two rating levels for loss of more than half of the maxilla:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | The loss is not replaceable by prosthesis |
| 50% | The loss is replaceable by prosthesis |
What the VA Looks For
When rating this condition, the VA focuses on the key factor of whether the affected portion of the maxilla can or cannot be replaced by a prosthesis, which determines placement at the 50% or 100% level.
Diagnostic imaging. For VA compensation purposes, diagnostic imaging studies may be used to evaluate this condition. These 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
- Ultrasonography
Related impairments evaluated separately. The VA separately evaluates the following impairments under the appropriate diagnostic code and combines them under § 4.25 for each separately rated condition:
- Loss of vocal articulation
- Loss of smell
- Loss of taste
- Neurological impairment
- Respiratory dysfunction
- Other impairments
This means that certain associated effects may be considered under their own diagnostic codes in addition to the rating for the maxilla itself.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.150, diagnostic code 9914. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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