Glossodynia (Burning Tongue Syndrome)

DC 9900Dental/Oral38 CFR 4.150, DC 9900

A chronic condition causing a burning, scalding, or tingling sensation on the tongue, lips, or inside of the mouth with no visible cause. It can make eating and speaking painful. The VA rates glossodynia based on how often symptoms occur and how much they affect your ability to eat and speak.

How the VA rates this condition

The VA rates this condition based on how often symptoms occur and how severe each episode is. The examiner will ask about the frequency, duration, and intensity of your episodes, as well as how they affect your ability to work.

Diagnostic code

DC 9900

Rating range

0% – 20%

Rating levels

Rating criteria are defined in 38 CFR 4.150, DC 9900. 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

You have constant, severe burning mouth pain that significantly limits your diet and makes speaking uncomfortable. Multiple treatments have been tried with incomplete relief.

What the VA looks for

Constant burning pain documented by treating provider
Significant dietary limitations affecting nutrition
Speech discomfort or avoidance of prolonged speaking
Multiple medication trials with incomplete pain control
Referral to oral medicine specialist or pain management

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not completing a thorough workup to exclude other causes — the VA will want to see that vitamin deficiencies, oral infections (thrush), allergies, dry mouth, and autoimmune conditions have been ruled out before accepting a glossodynia diagnosis.
⚠Not documenting how the burning sensation affects your diet and quality of life — a specific food diary showing what you can and cannot eat due to oral pain provides compelling evidence.
⚠Not connecting glossodynia to service-related causes — medications for PTSD, depression, and anxiety commonly cause burning mouth syndrome as a side effect, supporting a secondary service connection claim.
⚠Not seeing an oral medicine specialist — a diagnosis from a specialist carries more weight than a general dentist, and the specialist can provide detailed documentation of the condition.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Dental and Oral Conditions

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

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

Glossodynia (Burning Tongue Syndrome)

How the VA rates this condition

Diagnostic code

DC 9900

Rating range

0% – 20%

Rating levels

Rating Levels

You have constant, severe burning mouth pain that significantly limits your diet and makes speaking uncomfortable. Multiple treatments have been tried with incomplete relief.

What the VA looks for

Constant burning pain documented by treating provider
Significant dietary limitations affecting nutrition
Speech discomfort or avoidance of prolonged speaking
Multiple medication trials with incomplete pain control
Referral to oral medicine specialist or pain management

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not completing a thorough workup to exclude other causes — the VA will want to see that vitamin deficiencies, oral infections (thrush), allergies, dry mouth, and autoimmune conditions have been ruled out before accepting a glossodynia diagnosis.

⚠Not documenting how the burning sensation affects your diet and quality of life — a specific food diary showing what you can and cannot eat due to oral pain provides compelling evidence.

⚠Not connecting glossodynia to service-related causes — medications for PTSD, depression, and anxiety commonly cause burning mouth syndrome as a side effect, supporting a secondary service connection claim.

⚠Not seeing an oral medicine specialist — a diagnosis from a specialist carries more weight than a general dentist, and the specialist can provide detailed documentation of the condition.