Dementia Due to Head Trauma

DC 9304Mental Disorders38 CFR 4.130, DC 9304 — General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders

A progressive cognitive decline caused by traumatic brain injury sustained during military service. This includes memory loss, impaired reasoning, personality changes, and difficulty with daily tasks that developed after a documented head injury. The VA rates this condition using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders based on how severely it affects your ability to work and function in daily life.

How the VA rates this condition

The VA rates this condition based on how much it affects your ability to work and carry out daily activities. The examiner will focus on the functional limitations your condition causes, not just the diagnosis itself.

Diagnostic code

DC 9304

Rating range

0% – 100%

Rating levels

Rating criteria are defined in 38 CFR 4.130, DC 9304 — General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. This guide presents a plain-language summary and is not a substitute for the full regulatory text. Always consult a VSO or VA-accredited attorney for case-specific advice.

Rating Levels

Your condition causes total impairment in your ability to work and function socially. You may be a persistent danger to yourself or others, disoriented, or have severe memory loss.

What the VA looks for

Gross impairment in thought processes or communication
Persistent delusions or hallucinations
Grossly inappropriate behavior
Persistent danger of hurting self or others
Inability to perform activities of daily living
Disorientation to time or place
Memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not establishing a clear link between the in-service head trauma and current cognitive decline — obtain a nexus opinion that connects your TBI event to your dementia diagnosis. Service treatment records documenting the original head injury are critical.
⚠Confusing TBI residuals with dementia — TBI (DC 8045) and dementia due to head trauma (DC 9304) are related but distinct. If your cognitive symptoms have progressed beyond the original TBI residuals into a dementia diagnosis, make sure your provider documents this progression.
⚠Not undergoing neuropsychological testing — formal cognitive testing (such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment or full neuropsychological battery) provides objective evidence of the type and severity of your cognitive impairment.
⚠Not documenting the functional impact on daily life — describe specific examples of forgetting appointments, getting lost in familiar places, difficulty managing finances, or needing supervision for safety. Buddy statements from family members who observe your daily struggles are very powerful evidence.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Mental Disorders
DBQ Traumatic Brain Injury

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…

Dementia Due to Head Trauma

How the VA rates this condition

Diagnostic code

DC 9304

Rating range

0% – 100%

Rating levels

Rating Levels

Your condition causes total impairment in your ability to work and function socially. You may be a persistent danger to yourself or others, disoriented, or have severe memory loss.

What the VA looks for

Gross impairment in thought processes or communication
Persistent delusions or hallucinations
Grossly inappropriate behavior
Persistent danger of hurting self or others
Inability to perform activities of daily living
Disorientation to time or place
Memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not establishing a clear link between the in-service head trauma and current cognitive decline — obtain a nexus opinion that connects your TBI event to your dementia diagnosis. Service treatment records documenting the original head injury are critical.

⚠Confusing TBI residuals with dementia — TBI (DC 8045) and dementia due to head trauma (DC 9304) are related but distinct. If your cognitive symptoms have progressed beyond the original TBI residuals into a dementia diagnosis, make sure your provider documents this progression.

⚠Not undergoing neuropsychological testing — formal cognitive testing (such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment or full neuropsychological battery) provides objective evidence of the type and severity of your cognitive impairment.

⚠Not documenting the functional impact on daily life — describe specific examples of forgetting appointments, getting lost in familiar places, difficulty managing finances, or needing supervision for safety. Buddy statements from family members who observe your daily struggles are very powerful evidence.