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Hard Palate Defect / Loss
DC 9911 | 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix) |
Hard Palate Defect / Loss is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 9911 of 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix) 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
Loss or defect of the hard palate from trauma, surgery, or disease. Causes difficulty eating, nasal regurgitation of food and liquids, and speech impairment. May require prosthetic obturator.
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
30%
DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of half or more, not replaceable by prosthesis" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of ≥½ of the hard palate where no obturator / prosthesis can restore the oral-nasal partition function.
20%
DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of less than half, not replaceable by prosthesis" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of <½ of the hard palate where no obturator / prosthesis can restore the oral-nasal partition function.
10%
DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of half or more, replaceable by prosthesis" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of ≥½ of the hard palate where a functioning obturator / prosthesis restores the oral-nasal partition.
0%
DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of less than half, replaceable by prosthesis" = 0%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of <½ of the hard palate where prosthesis restores function — no compensable residual under DC 9911, but residual scarring (DC 7800-7805) or speech impairment (DC 6519/6516) may still be separately compensable.
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 reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026