Loss of Smell and Taste Rating Guide
The loss of smell or taste is small on the rating schedule but real, and it is often overlooked after a head injury or toxic exposure. 38 CFR § 4.87a rates each at 10 percent, but only when the loss is complete and has an objective cause. Here is how it works.
The Rules That Decide a Smell or Taste Claim
Smell and taste are rated together under 38 CFR § 4.87a, and the schedule for them is short. Two codes cover the whole area, and a few plain rules decide whether the loss counts.
1. The two codes each rate 10 percent
Complete loss of the sense of smell (anosmia, DC 6276) is rated 10 percent, and complete loss of the sense of taste (ageusia, DC 6275) is rated 10 percent. Because they are separate codes, a veteran who has lost both can carry a rating for each.
2. The loss must be complete
These codes rate complete loss only. A partial or reduced sense of smell or taste is not compensable under 6275 or 6276. The rating turns on whether the sense is gone, not merely diminished.
3. The loss must have an objective, verifiable cause
The schedule requires evidence of an anatomical or pathological basis for the loss, for example a documented head injury, toxic exposure, or nasal and sinus disease. A report that things do not smell or taste right, on its own, is not enough. There has to be a medical cause the record can point to.
4. Losing smell often takes taste with it
Smell and taste are closely linked, so losing the sense of smell often reduces the sense of taste as well. Because of that connection, both should be evaluated when one is lost, so a second ratable loss is not missed.
Find the Guide for Your Condition
This system has no dedicated per-condition guide. For the exact criteria and the Board data, open the condition lookup page:
| Area | Guide | DC codes |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of smell | Condition Lookup | 6276 |
| Loss of taste | Condition Lookup | 6275 |
For the exact criteria and Board data, open the condition lookup page.
Common Secondary Conditions
A ratable loss of smell or taste usually rides on another service-connected condition rather than standing alone, so it is often filed as a secondary claim:
- Loss secondary to a traumatic brain injury or facial trauma. A head injury or facial fracture can damage the nerves that carry smell and taste. See the TBI claims guide.
- Loss of smell secondary to chronic sinusitis or rhinitis. Long-term sinus or nasal disease that blocks the nasal passages can shut down the sense of smell. See the sinusitis and rhinitis guide.
- Both senses are often lost together, so when smell goes, taste should be checked as a second claim rather than assumed to be unaffected.
For how secondary service connection works, see secondary conditions.
Evidence That Wins
- Objective smell or taste testing, for example a standardized smell-identification test, to document that the loss is complete rather than reported.
- Documentation of the underlying cause, such as a head injury or sinus disease, that gives the loss the anatomical or pathological basis the schedule requires.
- A treatment record connecting the loss to that cause, tying the missing sense back to the injury or disease that produced it.
- The matching DBQ for the examination, which prompts the examiner to record the findings the rating depends on. See the DBQ guide.
Common Mistakes
- Claiming a partial loss. Only complete loss is compensable under 6275 and 6276. A reduced-but-present sense does not rate.
- Filing without an objective cause documented. The schedule needs an anatomical or pathological basis. A report of lost smell or taste, with nothing in the record explaining it, is not enough.
- Not tying the loss to its cause. The loss has to be connected to the head injury or sinus disease behind it, not left as a standalone complaint.
- Claiming only one sense when both were lost. Because smell and taste are separate codes and often go together, stopping at one can leave a second 10 percent rating unclaimed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the VA rate loss of smell and taste?
Does a partial loss of smell or taste count?
What proves the loss?
What causes a ratable loss?
Is loss of smell or taste commonly secondary to a TBI?
Related Tools and Guides
Sources: 38 CFR 4.87a, sense of smell and taste. Educational only, not legal advice, and not a prediction of any individual claim. Rating criteria and case law change; confirm current details in 38 CFR Part 4. For help with your claim, find a VA-accredited representative.