38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.97

Total laryngectomy — VA Diagnostic Code 6518

ENT / airway

Diagnostic code

6518

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38 CFR § 4.97 lists Diagnostic Code 6518 as “Laryngectomy, total.” The rating cell is 100, with superscript 1. The next row has an empty rating cell and tells how to rate residuals of a partial laryngectomy. The catalog slug is dc-6518-laryngectomy-total.

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was last amended on 2026-08-27. On 2026-10-05 the titles list reports up to date as of 2026-10-02, and the 2026-10-02 XML for the sections quoted here matches the 2026-10-01 XML. Section 4.97 source note: [61 FR 46728, Sept. 5, 1996, as amended at 71 FR 28586, May 17, 2006].

The rating criteria at each level

Laryngectomy, total — DC 6518

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Laryngectomy, total.

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Rate the residuals of partial laryngectomy as laryngitis (DC 6516), aphonia (DC 6519), or stenosis of larynx (DC 6520).

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Laryngectomy, total.
—	Rate the residuals of partial laryngectomy as laryngitis (DC 6516), aphonia (DC 6519), or stenosis of larynx (DC 6520).

The 100 sits in the rating cell beside the title “Laryngectomy, total.” Superscript 1 is on that 100. Footnote 1 of the § 4.97 table reads: “Review for entitlement to special monthly compensation under § 3.350 of this chapter.” The footnote does not state a payment amount.

The partial-laryngectomy sentence is its own row. The rating cell on that row is empty. It names DC 6516, DC 6519, and DC 6520. It does not print 30, 60, or another percentage.

The title ends with a period. The partial-laryngectomy sentence also ends with a period.

38 CFR § 4.31 says that in every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.

38 CFR § 4.96(c) says that when evaluating any claim involving complete organic aphonia, refer to § 3.350 to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation. That paragraph names complete organic aphonia. It does not name laryngectomy. Paragraph (a) of the same section is the rule against combining ratings under diagnostic codes 6600 through 6817 and 6822 through 6847. DC 6518 is not in that list.

38 CFR § 3.350(a) lists “complete organic aphonia with constant inability to communicate by speech” among the losses in that paragraph, under 38 U.S.C. 1114(k). Searching the 2026-10-01 text of § 3.350 for “laryngectomy” returns no hits. The same words, “Constant inability to communicate by speech,” are the 100 line of DC 6519, and that 100 also carries superscript 1. DC 6518’s 100 is the total-laryngectomy cell. This page does not decide whether a total laryngectomy meets the § 3.350(a) phrase.

DC 6516 is chronic laryngitis, 30 and 10, both starting with hoarseness. The DC 6519 note says: “Evaluate incomplete aphonia as laryngitis, chronic (DC 6516).” DC 6520 is stenosis of the larynx, including residuals of laryngeal trauma. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided, and that the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “laryngectomy” or “6518.” 38 CFR § 3.320(a)(3)(i) says “Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.” That sentence does not assign DC 6518. This page does not add DC 6518 to a presumptive row.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6518, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. The source note prints [61 FR 46728, Sept. 5, 1996, as amended at 71 FR 28586, May 17, 2006].

What the words mean in your records

Total and partial are different rows

The 100 is printed on “Laryngectomy, total.” Residuals of a partial laryngectomy are rated as laryngitis (DC 6516), aphonia (DC 6519), or stenosis of larynx (DC 6520). The partial sentence does not say 100.

Footnote 1 is a review sentence

Footnote 1 says to review for entitlement to special monthly compensation under § 3.350. It does not state a payment amount. Section 3.350(a) uses the words “complete organic aphonia with constant inability to communicate by speech.” It does not contain “laryngectomy.”

DC 6519 also has superscript 1

“Constant inability to communicate by speech” is 100 on DC 6519, with superscript 1. “Constant inability to speak above a whisper” is 60, and that 60 has no superscript. The incomplete-aphonia note points to DC 6516.

Evidence that speaks to each level

Total laryngectomy

What the rater needs to see. The operative record that the larynx was removed in total. The schedule prints 100 on that title, with footnote 1.

Where that usually lives. The operative report and the pathology report naming the procedure.

Partial laryngectomy

What the rater needs to see. The schedule does not print a percentage on the partial row. It names chronic laryngitis (DC 6516), complete organic aphonia (DC 6519), or stenosis of the larynx (DC 6520).

Where that usually lives. The operative report showing what remains, plus the findings those three codes use.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
Total laryngectomy	The operative record that the larynx was removed in total. The schedule prints 100 on that title, with footnote 1.	The operative report and the pathology report naming the procedure.
Partial laryngectomy	The schedule does not print a percentage on the partial row. It names chronic laryngitis (DC 6516), complete organic aphonia (DC 6519), or stenosis of the larynx (DC 6520).	The operative report showing what remains, plus the findings those three codes use.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Sinusitis, Rhinitis and Other Conditions of the Nose, Throat, Larynx and Pharynx.” The file is Sinusitis, Rhinitis and Other Conditions of the Nose, Throat, Larynx and Pharynx.

The exam form

DC 6518 prints 100 for a total laryngectomy and names three other codes for residuals of a partial laryngectomy. This page does not say the nose, throat, and larynx form replaces those sentences.

Related codes and how they interact

The three codes named for a partial laryngectomy

DC 6516 prints 30 and 10. DC 6519 prints 100 and 60, and its note sends incomplete aphonia to DC 6516. DC 6520 prints 100, 60, 30, and 10, and its note says to evaluate as aphonia (DC 6519).

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not contain “laryngectomy.” Section 3.320(a)(3)(i) names squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and does not assign DC 6518. This page does not add DC 6518 to a presumptive row.

A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.

Short answers

How does VA rate a total laryngectomy under DC 6518?

Under 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6518 is “Laryngectomy, total,” rated 100, with footnote 1 directing a review under § 3.350. Residuals of a partial laryngectomy are rated as DC 6516, DC 6519, or DC 6520. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is total laryngectomy the same cell as complete organic aphonia?

No. DC 6518’s 100 is the total-laryngectomy title. DC 6519’s 100 is “Constant inability to communicate by speech.” Both 100s carry superscript 1. Section 3.350(a) uses the aphonia words and does not contain “laryngectomy.” Education only.

FAQ

What percentage does DC 6518 print for a total laryngectomy?

100. The title is “Laryngectomy, total.” Superscript 1 is on that 100. Footnote 1 says to review for special monthly compensation under § 3.350. It does not state a payment amount. Education only.

How does the schedule rate a partial laryngectomy?

The next row says to rate the residuals of partial laryngectomy as laryngitis (DC 6516), aphonia (DC 6519), or stenosis of larynx (DC 6520). That row’s rating cell is empty.

Does § 3.350 name laryngectomy?

No. Section 3.350(a) lists “complete organic aphonia with constant inability to communicate by speech.” Searching the 2026-10-01 text for “laryngectomy” returns no hits. Those speech words are the 100 line of DC 6519.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6518, whether the procedure was total or partial, and which code was used for any residual.
The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
Other nose, throat, and larynx codes are on the ENT / airway diagnostic-code index.

Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.

Other codes in this body system

Nearby catalog entries in ENT / airway, ordered by diagnostic code number. All ENT / airway codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6518 • va.gov

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.