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Jaw Fracture Residuals
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.150 (Dental and oral conditions) · reviewed 2026-05-14 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Jaw Fracture Residuals is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 9904 of 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9904 across 4 severity tiers (30% / 20% / 10% / 0%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Residual effects from fracture of the mandible or maxilla. Common in veterans from combat injuries, training accidents, or assaults. Residuals may include malunion, nonunion, limited jaw opening, numbness, and chronic pain.
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
30%
DC 9903 — "Mandible, nonunion of, confirmed by diagnostic imaging studies: Severe, with false motion" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9903.) Mandibular nonunion confirmed by imaging (X-ray, CT, MRI, PET, bone scan, or ultrasound per § 4.150 Note 1) with palpable abnormal mobility at the fracture site. OR — DC 9916 "Maxilla, nonunion, With false motion" = 30%. OR — DC 9916 "Maxilla, malunion, With displacement, causing severe anterior or posterior open bite" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9916.)
20%
DC 9904 — "Mandible, malunion of: Displacement, causing severe anterior or posterior open bite" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9904.) Mandibular malunion with healing in a position that produces a severe open-bite deformity (failure of upper and lower teeth to occlude in the anterior or posterior region).
10%
DC 9904 — "Mandible, malunion of: Displacement, causing moderate anterior or posterior open bite" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9904.) OR — DC 9903 "Mandible, nonunion of: Moderate, without false motion" = 10%. OR — DC 9916 "Maxilla, nonunion, Without false motion" = 10%. OR — DC 9916 "Maxilla, malunion, With displacement, causing moderate anterior or posterior open bite" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9903 / 9904 / 9916.)
0%
DC 9904 — "Mandible, malunion of: Displacement, not causing anterior or posterior open bite" = 0%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9904.) OR — DC 9916 "Maxilla, malunion, With displacement, causing mild anterior or posterior open bite" = 0%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9916.)
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.150 (Dental and oral conditions). Source verified 2026-05-14 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026