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🦷 Dental / OralJaw / MandibleDC 9901

Complete Mandible Loss

Complete loss of the mandible (lower jawbone), typically resulting from combat injury, tumor resection, severe infection, or radiation necrosis. Rated at 100% under DC 9901.

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VA Rating Tiers

100%
complete loss
0%
Meets minimum criteria

Rating Notes

  • ›100%: Complete loss of the mandible — rated at 100%. DC 9901.
  • ›0%: Documented but below compensable threshold — service connected but non-compensable.
  • ›DC 9901: Complete loss of the mandible — rated at 100%.
  • ›This is a fixed rating — no ambiguity in the rating criteria.
  • ›If loss is partial, file under Partial Mandible Loss (DC 9902) instead.

Eligibility Basics

✅
Current symptoms
✅
In-service event
✅
Diagnosis or lay evidence
  • •DC 9901 — complete loss of mandible is rated at 100%.
  • •This is among the most severe oral conditions ratable by the VA.
  • •Service connection may be direct (combat trauma, blast injury) or secondary to a service-connected malignancy or radiation treatment.
  • •A nexus letter from an oral surgeon or maxillofacial surgeon is strongly recommended.

Evidence to Gather

Service Records

  • •combat or incident records documenting jaw injury
  • •service medical records showing jaw surgery or injury during service
  • •records of radiation treatment administered during service

Medical Evidence

  • •oral surgery or maxillofacial surgery operative reports
  • •pathology reports if mandible was removed due to tumor
  • •imaging (CT scan, panoramic X-ray) confirming mandible loss
  • •prosthetics or reconstruction records

Lay Evidence (Buddy Statements)

  • •personal statement describing the in-service event or injury
  • •buddy statement documenting the injury or treatment during service

Diagnostic Tests

  • •CT scan of jaw / facial bones
  • •panoramic X-ray
  • •operative report from mandibulectomy

C&P Exam Preparation

Exam type: Oral Medicine / Maxillofacial Surgery — Mandible Loss

Be ready to describe

  • •the event or diagnosis that caused the mandible loss
  • •date of surgery and surgical approach
  • •all reconstruction procedures (bone grafts, plates, implants)
  • •current functional limitations — eating, speaking, pain

Prep notes

  • •Bring all oral surgery operative reports and pathology records.
  • •Bring CT scan or panoramic X-ray imaging.
  • •Bring documentation of any prosthetics or reconstructive surgery.
  • •Describe how the condition affects your ability to eat and speak on your worst days.

Quick Facts

Diagnostic Code
DC 9901
Category
Dental / Oral
Subcategory
Jaw / Mandible
Typical Claim Type
direct
Rating Range
0% – 100%

Also Known As

complete mandible losstotal mandible losscomplete lower jaw lossmandibulectomytotal mandibulectomyentire jawbone removed

Related Conditions

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