Inflammation of the glossopharyngeal nerve that may cause throat pain or difficulty swallowing.
Because the rating levels turn on how much ordinary sensation you have lost in the mucous membrane of the pharynx, fauces, and tonsils, medical records and examination findings that document that sensory loss are the most directly useful evidence. A neurological exam that tests and records sensation in those specific areas helps show whether loss is absent, partial, or complete. Records from a specialist such as an otolaryngologist or neurologist that describe the degree of sensory deficit, any swallowing difficulty, or pain patterns in the throat region can support a higher or lower rating level. If your symptoms affect only sensation and not motor function, the regulation limits the rating to the mild or at most moderate level, so records that distinguish sensory from motor involvement matter. Statements from you or people who observe you daily about how reduced throat sensation affects eating, speaking, or swallowing can help illustrate how the condition functions in real life.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
