Trigeminal Neuropathy (Dental Origin)

DC 9905Dental/Oral38 CFR 4.150, DC 9905

Nerve damage to the trigeminal nerve (the main nerve that provides feeling to your face and jaw) caused by dental procedures, jaw surgery, or dental trauma. This can cause numbness, tingling, or severe pain in your face, lips, chin, or tongue.

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 9905

Rating range

0% – 50%

Rating levels

Rating criteria are defined in 38 CFR 4.150, DC 9905. 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 complete numbness in one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve causing total loss of sensation in a major area of your face, with severe functional impairment in eating, drinking, and speaking.

What the VA looks for

Complete sensory loss in trigeminal distribution
Total loss of sensation on examination
Severe impairment of mastication
Severe speech difficulty
Inability to detect temperature or pain in affected area
Risk of oral injury from numbness

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not documenting the specific dental procedure or trauma that caused the nerve injury — surgical records, dental treatment notes, and military dental records are critical for establishing service connection.
⚠Not getting nerve conduction studies or EMG testing — objective evidence of nerve damage is much stronger than subjective reports of numbness alone.
⚠Not describing the functional impact on eating, speaking, and oral safety — the VA rates based on how the nerve damage affects your daily function, not just the presence of numbness.
⚠Not filing as a separate condition from TMJ — trigeminal neuropathy is a nerve condition distinct from joint problems and can receive its own rating.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Dental and Oral Conditions
DBQ Cranial Nerve Conditions

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

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

How the VA rates this condition

Diagnostic code

DC 9905

Rating range

0% – 50%

Rating levels

Rating Levels

What the VA looks for

Complete sensory loss in trigeminal distribution
Total loss of sensation on examination
Severe impairment of mastication
Severe speech difficulty
Inability to detect temperature or pain in affected area
Risk of oral injury from numbness

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not documenting the specific dental procedure or trauma that caused the nerve injury — surgical records, dental treatment notes, and military dental records are critical for establishing service connection.

⚠Not getting nerve conduction studies or EMG testing — objective evidence of nerve damage is much stronger than subjective reports of numbness alone.

⚠Not describing the functional impact on eating, speaking, and oral safety — the VA rates based on how the nerve damage affects your daily function, not just the presence of numbness.

⚠Not filing as a separate condition from TMJ — trigeminal neuropathy is a nerve condition distinct from joint problems and can receive its own rating.