Oral / Oropharyngeal Cancer

100% (active malignancy / active treatment): Per DC 9918 verbatim "Neoplasm, hard and soft tissue, malignant" rates at 100%. Per § 4.97 DC 6819 footnote: "A rating of 100 percent shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgical, X-ray, antineoplastic chemotherapy or other therapeutic procedure. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination." Active diagnosis + any active treatment modality = 100%.

Post-treatment residuals (combined per § 4.25 from separately rated components): For most aggressive oral / oropharyngeal cancers post-treatment, combined residuals typically yield 60% from surgical resection (loss of tongue substance under DC 7202, loss of maxilla / mandible substance under DC 9914/9915/9901-9902), radiation-induced xerostomia + dysphagia + scarring (DC 7800-7805 scars), and speech impairment (DC 6519 complete organic aphonia or DC 6516 incomplete aphonia / chronic laryngitis).

Post-treatment residuals (smaller resection / less aggressive treatment): Combined residuals from limited surgical excision, post-radiation moderate xerostomia, mild scarring, and partial speech impairment. Each residual rated under its own DC and combined per § 4.25.

Post-treatment residuals (well-healed minor surgical excision): Mild residual scarring + mild functional impairment. Each component rated separately under § 4.118 (scars) / § 4.114 (digestive) / § 4.150 (dental).

Post-treatment residuals (minimal): Documented history of treated oral cancer with no recurrence + minimal residual functional impairment.