Loss of Hard Palate

DC 9911Dental/Oral38 CFR 4.150, DC 9911

Loss of part or all of the hard palate (the bony roof of the mouth). This can result from surgery, trauma, or disease. The VA rates this condition based on how much of the palate is missing, whether a prosthesis can replace it, and how it affects your speech and ability to eat.

Rating Levels

You have extensive loss of the hard palate causing severe speech impairment, significant nasal regurgitation, and difficulty eating. Daily activities like talking and eating are seriously affected.

What the VA looks for

Extensive hard palate loss confirmed on exam or imaging
Severe speech impairment documented
Significant nasal regurgitation affecting nutrition
Difficulty eating most foods
May require dietary modifications or feeding assistance

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not getting a formal speech evaluation — the VA needs documented evidence of how the palate loss affects your speech, and a speech-language pathologist can provide objective measurements.
⚠Not documenting nasal regurgitation and its impact on eating — keep a record of how often food or liquid comes through your nose and which foods you can no longer eat safely.
⚠Not explaining why a prosthesis does not work for you — if an obturator has been tried and failed, or cannot be fitted, this should be clearly stated in your dental records.
⚠Not connecting the palate loss to military service — trauma, surgical complications, or infections during service that caused the palate loss should be well-documented.
⚠Not filing for secondary conditions — hard palate loss can cause chronic sinus problems, nutritional deficiencies, social isolation, and mental health conditions that may each warrant a separate rating.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Dental and Oral Conditions

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…

Loss of Hard Palate

Rating Levels

You have extensive loss of the hard palate causing severe speech impairment, significant nasal regurgitation, and difficulty eating. Daily activities like talking and eating are seriously affected.

What the VA looks for

Extensive hard palate loss confirmed on exam or imaging
Severe speech impairment documented
Significant nasal regurgitation affecting nutrition
Difficulty eating most foods
May require dietary modifications or feeding assistance

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not getting a formal speech evaluation — the VA needs documented evidence of how the palate loss affects your speech, and a speech-language pathologist can provide objective measurements.

⚠Not documenting nasal regurgitation and its impact on eating — keep a record of how often food or liquid comes through your nose and which foods you can no longer eat safely.

⚠Not explaining why a prosthesis does not work for you — if an obturator has been tried and failed, or cannot be fitted, this should be clearly stated in your dental records.

⚠Not connecting the palate loss to military service — trauma, surgical complications, or infections during service that caused the palate loss should be well-documented.

⚠Not filing for secondary conditions — hard palate loss can cause chronic sinus problems, nutritional deficiencies, social isolation, and mental health conditions that may each warrant a separate rating.