Body system: Dental and Oral ConditionsRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.150
This rating covers the loss of your hard palate - the bony roof of your mouth that separates your mouth from your nasal cavity. The VA rates this condition from 0% to 30% based on how much of your hard palate is missing and whether a prosthetic device (artificial replacement) can restore function. The higher ratings go to veterans who've lost more of their hard palate and can't use a prosthetic to help with eating, drinking, and speaking.
Rating levels
- 30% — You must have lost at least half of your hard palate (the bony roof of your mouth) and this loss cannot be fixed with a prosthetic device or artificial replacement. The damage is so extensive that dentists or oral surgeons cannot create a workable prosthesis to restore normal function of your mouth's roof.
- 20% — You have lost a small portion of your hard palate (the bony roof of your mouth), but less than half of it is gone. The missing part cannot be fixed or replaced with a dental device or artificial piece, leaving you with a permanent gap or hole in the roof of your mouth that affects your ability to eat, speak, or swallow normally.
- 10% — You must have lost at least half of your hard palate (the bony roof of your mouth) to qualify for this rating. The missing portion of your palate can be replaced with an artificial device called a prosthesis, which helps restore normal function for eating and speaking.
- 0% — You qualify under this criteria if you've lost less than half of your hard palate (the bony roof of your mouth) and can be fitted with a prosthetic device to replace the missing portion. The key requirement is that your loss must be replaceable with an artificial device that restores function.