Body system: Dental and Oral ConditionsRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.150DBQ: DBQ DENTAL Oral and Dental
DC 9916 covers an upper jaw bone (maxilla) that did not heal properly after a fracture. The VA rates it two ways. Nonunion, where the bone has not joined: 30% with false motion (the fragments move) and 10% without. Malunion, where the bone healed out of position: 30% for a severe open bite (the upper and lower teeth no longer meet at the front or the back), 10% for a moderate one and 0% for a mild one (38 CFR 4.150).
Rating levels
- 30% — Your upper jaw bone (maxilla) has not healed after a fracture (nonunion) and the unjoined parts move when they should not. "False motion" means the bone fragments shift or wobble when you chew, speak or press on the area, an unstable and painful condition that interferes with jaw function.
- 10% — Your upper jaw bone (maxilla) has not healed after a fracture (nonunion), but the fragments are stable and do not move when you chew, talk or press on the area. The unhealed fracture may still cause deformity or functional problems, but there is no looseness.
- 30% — A broken maxilla (upper jaw bone) that has healed improperly or hasn't healed at all, where the bone pieces have shifted out of their normal position. This misalignment creates a severe gap between your upper and lower teeth when you try to bite down, either at the front of your mouth or toward the back, making it very difficult to chew food properly.
- 10% — Your upper jaw bone (maxilla) broke and healed improperly or didn't heal at all, causing the bone pieces to shift out of their normal position. This misalignment creates a noticeable gap between your upper and lower teeth when you try to bite down, either at the front of your mouth or toward the back, making it difficult to chew food properly.
- 0% — Your upper jaw bone (maxilla) didn't heal properly after a break or fracture, and the bone pieces are out of their normal position. This causes a mild open bite, meaning your front teeth or back teeth don't come together properly when you close your mouth, leaving a small gap between your upper and lower teeth.