EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Salivary Gland Disease
DC 7800 | 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC) |
Salivary Gland Disease is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7800 of 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC) 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
Disorders of the salivary glands including chronic sialadenitis (inflammation), sialolithiasis (stones), Sjogren's syndrome effects, and post-radiation xerostomia (dry mouth). Dry mouth from medications is also common in veterans.
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
30%
Severe residuals — combined per § 4.25 from multiple separately-rated components: severe xerostomia with documented dental destruction (rate dental component under § 4.150 DC 9913 teeth loss), surgical resection scarring (§ 4.118 DC 7800-7805), recurrent sialolithiasis requiring repeated surgical intervention. Each component rated separately under its own DC.
20%
Moderate residuals — moderate xerostomia with some dental/oral complications; or moderate scarring from surgical excision; or recurrent infections requiring antibiotics. Each component rated separately under its own DC and combined per § 4.25.
10%
Mild residuals — mild xerostomia with minimal dental impact; or healed surgical scarring; or infrequent infections managed with oral antibiotics. Rated by analogy under the most-applicable DC for the residual.
0%
Documented diagnosis but no current functional impairment — minimal xerostomia controlled with artificial saliva substitutes, no dental complications, no surgical residuals.
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