Condition Rating Guides
Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…
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Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…
Loss of part or all of the tongue, affecting the ability to speak, chew, and swallow. The VA rates based on how much of the tongue is missing and the resulting functional impairment.
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 9914
Rating range
0% – 100%
Rating levels
4
Rating criteria are defined in 38 CFR 4.150, DC 9914. 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.
You have complete or near-complete loss of the tongue, preventing intelligible speech. You have extreme difficulty swallowing and require specialized nutrition support.
What the VA looks for
Conditions commonly associated with Partial Loss of Tongue or rated under the same body system.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
Loss of Teeth (Due to Bone Loss)
Jaw Fracture Residuals
Chronic Osteomyelitis of the Jaw
Nonunion of the Mandible
Loss of Hard Palate
Partial Loss of Mandible
Partial Loss of Maxilla