Complete loss of sense of taste

Because a rating under this code requires both complete loss of taste and an anatomical or pathological basis for it, the evidence that helps your claim needs to address both points. Medical records that document a confirmed diagnosis of ageusia, or complete loss of taste, are central. Records showing a physical cause, such as nerve damage, a documented disease process, a structural abnormality, or another recognized condition affecting the taste pathways, help establish the required anatomical or pathological basis. Examination findings from a physician or specialist that describe the extent of the loss and connect it to a specific cause are especially useful. Statements from you describing how the complete absence of taste affects your daily life can support the overall picture, but the medical evidence establishing a physical or disease basis is what the regulation specifically requires.