Mandible Fracture, Moderate Displacement

DC 9904Dental/Oral38 CFR 4.150, DC 9904

A healed break in the lower jaw bone that did not heal in perfect alignment, causing problems with how your teeth fit together when you bite. The VA rates mandible fractures based on how much the displacement affects your ability to chew and the movement of your jaw.

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 9904

Rating range

10% – 20%

Rating levels

Rating criteria are defined in 38 CFR 4.150, DC 9904. 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 healed mandible fracture has severe displacement causing significant difficulty with chewing and your bite is noticeably off. You may need special dental work to correct the alignment.

What the VA looks for

Panoramic X-ray or CT showing severe displacement
Significant malocclusion requiring treatment
Severe difficulty chewing documented
Dental specialist evaluation of occlusion
Need for orthodontic or prosthetic correction

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not getting a panoramic X-ray or CT scan showing the healed fracture and displacement — the VA needs current imaging to document the degree of malunion, not just the original fracture records.
⚠Not having a dentist document the malocclusion (bad bite) in detail — how your teeth fit together when biting and chewing directly affects the rating level.
⚠Not connecting the fracture to an in-service event — document the specific injury, training accident, or combat incident that caused the fracture with service treatment records.
⚠Not filing for TMJ disorder as a secondary condition — mandible fractures commonly lead to TMJ problems, which can be rated separately under DC 9905.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Dental and Oral Conditions
DBQ Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Conditions

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

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

Mandible Fracture, Moderate Displacement

How the VA rates this condition

Diagnostic code

DC 9904

Rating range

10% – 20%

Rating levels

Rating Levels

Your healed mandible fracture has severe displacement causing significant difficulty with chewing and your bite is noticeably off. You may need special dental work to correct the alignment.

What the VA looks for

Panoramic X-ray or CT showing severe displacement
Significant malocclusion requiring treatment
Severe difficulty chewing documented
Dental specialist evaluation of occlusion
Need for orthodontic or prosthetic correction

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not getting a panoramic X-ray or CT scan showing the healed fracture and displacement — the VA needs current imaging to document the degree of malunion, not just the original fracture records.

⚠Not having a dentist document the malocclusion (bad bite) in detail — how your teeth fit together when biting and chewing directly affects the rating level.

⚠Not connecting the fracture to an in-service event — document the specific injury, training accident, or combat incident that caused the fracture with service treatment records.

⚠Not filing for TMJ disorder as a secondary condition — mandible fractures commonly lead to TMJ problems, which can be rated separately under DC 9905.