What happens during a C&P exam for Salivary Gland Disease?

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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Salivary Gland Disease

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Salivary Gland Disease?

Salivary Gland Disease (DC 7800) is rated at 30%, 20%, 10%, 0% under 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC). Severe residuals — combined per § 4.25 from multiple separately-rated components: severe xerostomia with documented dental destruction (rate dental component under § 4.150 DC 9913 teeth loss), surgical resection scarring (§ 4.118 DC 7800-7805), recurrent sialolithiasis requiring repeated surgical intervention. Each component rated separately under its own DC.

Q: What rates 30% for Salivary Gland Disease under 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC)?

Under 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC) (DC 7800), a 30% rating for Salivary Gland Disease requires: Severe residuals — combined per § 4.25 from multiple separately-rated components: severe xerostomia with documented dental destruction (rate dental component under § 4.150 DC 9913 teeth loss), surgical resection scarring (§ 4.118 DC 7800-7805), recurrent sialolithiasis requiring repeated surgical intervention. Each component rated separately under its own DC.

Q: What rates 20% for Salivary Gland Disease under 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC)?

Under 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC) (DC 7800), a 20% rating for Salivary Gland Disease requires: Moderate residuals — moderate xerostomia with some dental/oral complications; or moderate scarring from surgical excision; or recurrent infections requiring antibiotics. Each component rated separately under its own DC and combined per § 4.25.

Q: What rates 10% for Salivary Gland Disease under 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC)?

Under 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC) (DC 7800), a 10% rating for Salivary Gland Disease requires: Mild residuals — mild xerostomia with minimal dental impact; or healed surgical scarring; or infrequent infections managed with oral antibiotics. Rated by analogy under the most-applicable DC for the residual.

Q: What rates 0% for Salivary Gland Disease under 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC)?

Under 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC) (DC 7800), a 0% rating for Salivary Gland Disease requires: Documented diagnosis but no current functional impairment — minimal xerostomia controlled with artificial saliva substitutes, no dental complications, no surgical residuals.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Salivary Gland Disease VA claim?

Key evidence for a Salivary Gland Disease 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 780038 C.F.R. § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC)

Diagnostic Code

DC 7800

38 C.F.R. § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC)

Rating Range

0–30%

4 severity tiers

Source

Referenced

38 C.F.R. Part 4

Salivary Gland Disease is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7800 of 38 CFR § 4.20 / § 4.25 (rate by analogy — 2017-09-10 § 4.150 amendment REMOVED the dedicated salivary-gland code; analogize under DC 7800-7805 scar / DC 9913 teeth loss / underlying systemic DC) 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

Disorders of the salivary glands including chronic sialadenitis (inflammation), sialolithiasis (stones), Sjogren's syndrome effects, and post-radiation xerostomia (dry mouth). Dry mouth from medications is also common in veterans.

Rating Criteria

30%

Severe residuals — combined per § 4.25 from multiple separately-rated components: severe xerostomia with documented dental destruction (rate dental component under § 4.150 DC 9913 teeth loss), surgical resection scarring (§ 4.118 DC 7800-7805), recurrent sialolithiasis requiring repeated surgical intervention. Each component rated separately under its own DC.

20%

Moderate residuals — moderate xerostomia with some dental/oral complications; or moderate scarring from surgical excision; or recurrent infections requiring antibiotics. Each component rated separately under its own DC and combined per § 4.25.

10%

Mild residuals — mild xerostomia with minimal dental impact; or healed surgical scarring; or infrequent infections managed with oral antibiotics. Rated by analogy under the most-applicable DC for the residual.

Documented diagnosis but no current functional impairment — minimal xerostomia controlled with artificial saliva substitutes, no dental complications, no surgical residuals.

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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