Loss of teeth caused by deterioration or loss of the upper or lower jawbone itself.
Because the rating turns on jaw bone loss, diagnostic imaging is central to your claim. X-rays, CT scans, MRI, PET scans, radionuclide bone scans, or ultrasound can all document the extent of bone loss in the maxilla or mandible. Records showing the cause — such as treatment notes for osteomyelitis, a documented jaw fracture, or another traumatic or disease process — help establish that the tooth loss meets the code's requirement.
Dental records showing which specific teeth are missing matter because the rating percentage depends on exactly which teeth are absent. Records or a VA examination addressing whether a suitable prosthesis can restore your chewing function are equally important, since that finding determines whether you receive 0% or a higher rating.
If a prosthesis has been tried and failed, or if a dentist or oral surgeon has documented why one cannot be used, that evidence directly supports a rating above 0%. Statements from you describing difficulty chewing and how that affects your daily life can add context to the clinical findings.
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.
