Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71aDBQ: DBQ MUSC Bones and Other Skeletal Conditions
This diagnostic code covers situations where you've lost part of your skull bone, including both the outer layer and inner layer of the skull. The VA rates this condition based on how large the area of missing skull is and whether it has caused a brain hernia (when brain tissue pushes through the opening). Ratings range from 10% for small areas (smaller than a quarter) up to 80% if you have a brain hernia, which is the most serious complication.
Rating levels
- 80% — You have part of your skull bone missing from both the inner and outer layers, and brain tissue is bulging or pushing through the opening in your skull (brain hernia). This creates a visible bulge where brain tissue protrudes beyond the normal skull boundary due to the bone loss.
- 50% — You have lost part of your skull where both the inner and outer layers of bone are missing, and the missing area is larger than a 50-cent piece: more than 1.14 square inches (7.355 square centimeters) of skull surface. The brain is not bulging out through the opening (no brain hernia). The measurement is an area, not a width.
- 30% — You have a moderate-sized section of your skull missing that goes through both the outer and inner layers of bone, but your brain tissue is not pushing through or bulging out of the opening (brain hernia). The missing area is medium-sized - not just a small piece but not an extremely large portion either.
- 10% — You have a skull defect where both the inner and outer layers of bone are missing, but the missing area is smaller than a quarter: less than 0.716 square inches (4.619 square centimeters) of skull surface. The brain is not bulging out through the opening (no brain hernia). The measurement is an area, not a width.