Upper jaw fracture healed improperly or never healed

For a nonunion claim, diagnostic imaging is required — X-rays, CT scans, MRI, PET scans, bone scans, or ultrasound can all serve this purpose. The imaging needs to show that the bone fragments have not fused. To support the higher 30% rating, records or exam findings documenting false motion — meaning a provider can demonstrate abnormal movement at the fracture site — are important. An examiner's clinical findings describing the presence or absence of that mobility directly address what separates the two nonunion ratings.

For a malunion claim, dental or medical records showing how far your bite has been affected matter most. Measurements of the open bite and a provider's characterization of it as mild, moderate, or severe tie directly to the three rating levels. Your own statements describing difficulty chewing, speaking, or eating because of how your teeth meet can help a provider assess severity. If you also have smell, taste, speech, nerve, or breathing problems, separate medical records documenting those conditions support additional ratings.