What happens during a C&P exam for Hard Palate Defect / Loss?

Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation. Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

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CLAIM RECON INTEL

Hard Palate Defect / Loss

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Hard Palate Defect / Loss?

Hard Palate Defect / Loss (DC 9911) is rated at 30%, 20%, 10%, 0% under 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix). DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of half or more, not replaceable by prosthesis" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of ≥½ of the hard palate where no obturator / prosthesis can restore the oral-nasal partition function.

Q: What rates 30% for Hard Palate Defect / Loss under 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix)?

Under 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix) (DC 9911), a 30% rating for Hard Palate Defect / Loss requires: DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of half or more, not replaceable by prosthesis" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of ≥½ of the hard palate where no obturator / prosthesis can restore the oral-nasal partition function.

Q: What rates 20% for Hard Palate Defect / Loss under 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix)?

Under 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix) (DC 9911), a 20% rating for Hard Palate Defect / Loss requires: DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of less than half, not replaceable by prosthesis" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of <½ of the hard palate where no obturator / prosthesis can restore the oral-nasal partition function.

Q: What rates 10% for Hard Palate Defect / Loss under 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix)?

Under 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix) (DC 9911), a 10% rating for Hard Palate Defect / Loss requires: DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of half or more, replaceable by prosthesis" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of ≥½ of the hard palate where a functioning obturator / prosthesis restores the oral-nasal partition.

Q: What rates 0% for Hard Palate Defect / Loss under 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix)?

Under 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix) (DC 9911), a 0% rating for Hard Palate Defect / Loss requires: DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of less than half, replaceable by prosthesis" = 0%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of <½ of the hard palate where prosthesis restores function — no compensable residual under DC 9911, but residual scarring (DC 7800-7805) or speech impairment (DC 6519/6516) may still be separately compensable.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Hard Palate Defect / Loss VA claim?

Key evidence for a Hard Palate Defect / Loss claim includes: Service treatment records showing injury or complaints; Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT); Range of motion measurements; Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin; Buddy statements describing limitations. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 991138 C.F.R. § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix)

Diagnostic Code

DC 9911

38 C.F.R. § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix)

Rating Range

0–30%

4 severity tiers

Source

Referenced

38 C.F.R. Part 4

Hard Palate Defect / Loss is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 9911 of 38 CFR § 4.150, DC 9911 (Hard palate, loss of — the 2017-09-10 amendment REMOVED the pre-amendment DC 9912 and consolidated hard-palate loss at DC 9911 with the binary fraction × prosthetic-replaceability tier matrix) across 4 severity tiers (30% / 20% / 10% / 0%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.

Educational tool only. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

Overview

Loss or defect of the hard palate from trauma, surgery, or disease. Causes difficulty eating, nasal regurgitation of food and liquids, and speech impairment. May require prosthetic obturator.

Rating Criteria

30%

DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of half or more, not replaceable by prosthesis" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of ≥½ of the hard palate where no obturator / prosthesis can restore the oral-nasal partition function.

20%

DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of less than half, not replaceable by prosthesis" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of <½ of the hard palate where no obturator / prosthesis can restore the oral-nasal partition function.

10%

DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of half or more, replaceable by prosthesis" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of ≥½ of the hard palate where a functioning obturator / prosthesis restores the oral-nasal partition.

DC 9911 — "Hard palate, loss of: Loss of less than half, replaceable by prosthesis" = 0%. (Verbatim § 4.150 DC 9911.) Loss of <½ of the hard palate where prosthesis restores function — no compensable residual under DC 9911, but residual scarring (DC 7800-7805) or speech impairment (DC 6519/6516) may still be separately compensable.

03Key Evidence

—Service treatment records showing injury or complaints

—Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)

—Range of motion measurements

—Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin

—Buddy statements describing limitations

—Prescription history

—Physical therapy records

—Employment impact documentation

04C&P Exam Tips

1Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.

2Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

3Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.

4Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).

5If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.

6Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.

Tools

Rating Calculator →Secondaries Explorer →C&P Exam Prep →PACT Act Scanner →2026 Rates →

Sources & Editorial

Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.

View 38 C.F.R. Part 4 on eCFR →Editorial Standards →Suggest a correction →

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

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