VA mouth and teeth ratings range from 0% to 100% depending on the Diagnostic Code (DC), severity of symptoms, and functional loss.
VA disability for tooth extraction and tooth loss are rated from 0% to 40% with breaks at 10%, 20%, and 30%.
Pro Tip: Tooth loss alone is not rated by the VA because you could get dentures or false teeth to fix the condition.
Teeth are also not eligible for a rating when their loss is attributed to natural aging-related diseases.
To be eligible for a VA disability rating, your tooth loss must be due to a service-related injury, accident, disease, or illness.
What are the VA Mouth and Teeth Ratings?
The VA rates mouth and teeth conditions under various Diagnostic Codes (DCs) in 38 CFR § 4.150, 9900 to 9918.
Here is the VA rating chart for tooth extraction and tooth loss:
| DC 9913, VA Disability Ratings for Teeth | VA Rating |
|---|---|
| Loss of all teeth | 40% |
| Loss of all upper teeth | 30% |
| Loss of all lower teeth | 30% |
| All upper and lower posterior teeth missing | 20% |
| All upper and lower anterior teeth missing | 20% |
| All upper anterior teeth missing | 10% |
| All lower anterior teeth missing | 10% |
| All upper and lower teeth on one side missing | 10% |
| Where the loss of masticatory surface can be restored by suitable prosthesis | 0% |
Important Notes:
- Loss of Teeth: Tooth loss due to the loss of the bone substance in the maxilla or mandible, but there is no loss of continuity (structural integrity) in these jawbones.
- Suitable Prosthesis: The rating depends on whether the lost masticatory (chewing) surface can be adequately restored through the use of a suitable prosthesis like dentures.
- Restoration by Suitable Prosthesis: If it is possible to restore the lost masticatory surface through a suitable prosthesis, the rating is 0%, indicating that there is no disability related to tooth loss.
Basic Eligibility for VA Dental Benefits
The VA offers dental care benefits to eligible veterans, and these benefits are assigned based on various factors such as military service history and current health and living situation.
Here’s a breakdown of the eligibility criteria and the type of dental care available for different classes:
- Class I: Veterans with a service-connected dental disability or condition receiving compensation qualify for any needed dental care.
- Class IIC: Former prisoners of war are eligible for any required dental care.
- Class IV: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 100% disabling, or those unemployable and receiving disability compensation at the 100% rate due to service-connected conditions, can access any needed dental care.
- Class II: Veterans who served during the Persian Gulf War era for 90 days or more may qualify for one-time dental care, provided they meet specific criteria, including applying within 180 days of discharge and not having received a complete dental exam and treatment before discharge.
- Class IIA: Veterans with a service-connected noncompensable dental condition or a disability resulting from combat wounds or service trauma are eligible for dental care needed to maintain a functioning set of teeth.
- Class III: Those whose dental condition is linked to and exacerbating a service-connected health condition can receive dental care to treat these oral conditions.
- Class V: Active participants in a Veteran Readiness and Employment program can receive dental care necessary for program participation, goal achievement, or job adjustment.
- Class VI: Veterans needing dental care for an issue that complicates the treatment of a health condition they are receiving VA care for are eligible for relevant dental services.
- Class IIB: Participants in the Homeless Veterans Dental Program can access a one-time course of dental care for specific needs like pain relief or job assistance.
- Inpatient Status: Veterans receiving inpatient care in various care settings may qualify for dental services to manage a health condition being treated by a doctor.
To apply for VA dental care benefits, veterans need to fill out the 10-10EZ health care application online.
VA dental care is provided at over 200 dental clinics across the country, including Alaska and Puerto Rico.
Pro Tip: If a veteran doesn’t qualify for VA dental care benefits, they may be eligible to buy dental insurance at a reduced cost through the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) if they are signed up for VA health care or the Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA).
About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is one of the top VA disability benefits experts in the world and bestselling author of You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits You’ve Earned (Second Edition).
Brian’s frustration with the VA claim process led him to create VA Claims Insider, which provides disabled veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned to win their VA disability compensation claim, faster, even if they’ve already filed, been denied, gave up, or don’t know where to start.
As the founder of VA Claims Insider and CEO of Military Disability Made Easy, he has helped serve more than 10 million military members and veterans since 2013 through free online educational resources.
He is a former active duty Air Force officer with extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class).
