Total laryngectomy (voice box removal)

Because the sole rating under this code is 100%, the key evidence is documentation that a total laryngectomy was performed. Operative reports, surgical pathology records, and hospital discharge summaries that confirm complete removal of the larynx are the most direct forms of evidence. A VA or private physician's statement identifying the procedure as a total laryngectomy — rather than a partial one — can also help establish which diagnostic code applies.

If your procedure was a partial laryngectomy, the evidence needed depends on which residual condition VA uses to rate you. For laryngitis or aphonia, records showing ongoing voice impairment or voice loss matter. For laryngeal stenosis, imaging or scope findings that document narrowing of the airway are relevant. Statements from you or people who know you that describe how your voice or breathing difficulties affect your work and daily activities can support the picture drawn by clinical records.