Loss of Tongue (Partial/Complete)

DC 9911Dental/Oral38 CFR 4.150, DC 9911

Partial or complete loss of the tongue, typically from combat trauma, surgical resection for cancer, or severe injury. The VA rates this condition based on the extent of tongue tissue lost and the resulting impact on speech and swallowing. Even partial tongue loss can cause significant difficulty with eating, speaking, and quality of life.

How the VA rates this condition

The VA rates this condition based on objective clinical measurements and test results. The examiner will use standardized tests or lab values to determine the severity of your condition rather than relying primarily on subjective symptom reports.

Diagnostic code

DC 9911

Rating range

10% – 100%

Rating levels

Rating criteria are defined in 38 CFR 4.150, DC 9911. 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 lost all or nearly all of your tongue. Speech is unintelligible or absent. You cannot swallow normally and may require a feeding tube for nutrition.

What the VA looks for

Total or near-total tongue loss on examination
Unintelligible or absent speech
Feeding tube or alternative nutrition required
Complete loss of oral phase of swallowing
Speech pathology and gastroenterology evaluations

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not getting both a speech pathology evaluation and a swallow study — the VA needs objective evidence of how tongue loss affects both speech and swallowing. These two evaluations provide the strongest documentation of functional impairment.
⚠Not documenting the percentage of tongue lost — the rating depends heavily on how much tongue tissue is missing. Make sure your surgeon or examiner clearly states the estimated percentage of tongue loss.
⚠Not filing for secondary conditions — tongue loss commonly causes nutritional deficiencies (from inability to eat normally), aspiration pneumonia (from swallowing problems), depression and social isolation (from speech impairment), and dental problems.
⚠Not addressing the need for reconstructive surgery — if you had a flap reconstruction, document any remaining functional deficits, as reconstructed tissue does not restore normal tongue function.

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…

Loss of Tongue (Partial/Complete)

How the VA rates this condition

Diagnostic code

DC 9911

Rating range

10% – 100%

Rating levels

Rating Levels

You have lost all or nearly all of your tongue. Speech is unintelligible or absent. You cannot swallow normally and may require a feeding tube for nutrition.

What the VA looks for

Total or near-total tongue loss on examination
Unintelligible or absent speech
Feeding tube or alternative nutrition required
Complete loss of oral phase of swallowing
Speech pathology and gastroenterology evaluations

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not getting both a speech pathology evaluation and a swallow study — the VA needs objective evidence of how tongue loss affects both speech and swallowing. These two evaluations provide the strongest documentation of functional impairment.

⚠Not documenting the percentage of tongue lost — the rating depends heavily on how much tongue tissue is missing. Make sure your surgeon or examiner clearly states the estimated percentage of tongue loss.

⚠Not filing for secondary conditions — tongue loss commonly causes nutritional deficiencies (from inability to eat normally), aspiration pneumonia (from swallowing problems), depression and social isolation (from speech impairment), and dental problems.

⚠Not addressing the need for reconstructive surgery — if you had a flap reconstruction, document any remaining functional deficits, as reconstructed tissue does not restore normal tongue function.