---
title: "DC 9904 - Mandible, malunion of"
diagnostic_code: "9904"
body_system: "Dental and Oral Conditions"
cfr_section: "§ 4.150"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/dental/9904-mandible-malunion-of"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.150"
updated: "2026-07-21T21:49:04.482028Z"
---

# DC 9904 - Mandible, malunion of

Rated under § 4.150. Body system: Dental and Oral Conditions.

## Rating criteria

| Rating | Criteria |
| --- | --- |
| 20% | Displacement, causing severe anterior or posterior open bite |
| 10% | Displacement, causing moderate anterior or posterior open bite |
| 0% | Displacement, not causing anterior or posterior open bite |

## Notes

- 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

# Malunion of the Mandible (VA Diagnostic Code 9904)

*Dental and Oral Conditions · 38 CFR § 4.150*

## Understanding This Condition

Malunion of the mandible refers to a lower jawbone that has healed in an improperly aligned or displaced position. When the mandible heals with displacement, it can affect how the upper and lower teeth come together — sometimes causing an "open bite," where the teeth do not meet properly at the front (anterior) or back (posterior) of the mouth.

Under Diagnostic Code 9904, the VA rates malunion of the mandible based on whether the bone is displaced and, if so, the degree of open bite that results.

## Available Rating Levels

The VA uses the following schedule for this condition:

| Rating | What It Reflects |
|--------|------------------|
| **20%** | Displacement causing **severe** anterior or posterior open bite |
| **10%** | Displacement causing **moderate** anterior or posterior open bite |
| **0%** | Displacement **not** causing anterior or posterior open bite |

## What the VA Looks For

- **Displacement of the mandible** — whether the jawbone has healed out of proper alignment.
- **Presence and degree of open bite** — whether the displacement causes an anterior or posterior open bite, and whether that open bite is moderate or severe.

### Diagnostic Imaging

For VA compensation purposes, diagnostic imaging studies may be used to evaluate the condition. These 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

### Separately Rated Impairments

The VA separately evaluates certain related impairments under the appropriate diagnostic code and combines them 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 under 38 CFR § 4.150 for Diagnostic Code 9904. Individual ratings depend on the specific findings in each case.*

Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.150