38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.114
Tongue, loss of whole or part — VA Diagnostic Code 7202
Digestive
Diagnostic code
7202
38 CFR § 4.114 lists Diagnostic Code 7202 as “Tongue, loss of whole or part:”. The title ends with a colon. The percentage lines are 100, 60, and 30. None of those three cells ends with a period. Note (1) rates speech residuals as complete organic aphonia (DC 6519) or incomplete aphonia as laryngitis, chronic (DC 6516). Note (2) says dietary modifications due to this condition must be prescribed by a medical provider. [DC 7201](/conditions/diagnostic-codes/dc-7201-lips-injuries) rates injuries of the lips as disfigurement. [DC 7200](/conditions/diagnostic-codes/dc-7200-soft-tissue-injury-of-the-mouth-other-than-tongue-or-lips) is soft tissue injury of the mouth, other than tongue or lips.
Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. Section 4.114 was last amended at 89 FR 19743, Mar. 20, 2024. Section 4.112 carries the same March 20, 2024 date.
The rating criteria at each level
7202 Tongue, loss of whole or part
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). Absent oral nutritional intake
Rating %: 60
Criteria (verbatim). Intact oral nutritional intake with permanently impaired swallowing function that requires prescribed dietary modification
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Intact oral nutritional intake with permanently impaired swallowing function without prescribed dietary modification
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Absent oral nutritional intake |
| 60 | Intact oral nutritional intake with permanently impaired swallowing function that requires prescribed dietary modification |
| 30 | Intact oral nutritional intake with permanently impaired swallowing function without prescribed dietary modification |
Note (1): Rate the residuals of speech impairment as complete organic aphonia (DC 6519) or incomplete aphonia as laryngitis, chronic (DC 6516).
Note (2): Dietary modifications due to this condition must be prescribed by a medical provider.
DC 7202 does not print a 0 percent line. The lowest printed line is 30.
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 § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just.
The opening of § 4.114 says: “Do not combine ratings under diagnostic codes 7301 through 7329 inclusive, 7331, 7342, 7345 through 7350 inclusive, 7352, and 7355 through 7357 inclusive, with each other. Instead, when more than one rating is warranted under those diagnostic codes, assign a single evaluation under the diagnostic code that reflects the predominant disability picture, and elevate it to the next higher evaluation if warranted by the severity of the overall disability.” DC 7202 is not in that list. This page does not turn that absence into a combining rule. 38 CFR § 4.113 points coexisting abdominal conditions to the instruction under “Diseases of the Digestive System,” and to § 4.14.
38 CFR § 4.112 defines weight loss, baseline weight, undernutrition, and nutritional support for conditions in § 4.114. The DC 7202 cells say “oral nutritional intake” and “prescribed dietary modification.” They do not cite § 4.112, and they do not use the words “substantial weight loss” or “total parenteral nutrition.”
Note (1) names DC 6519 and DC 6516. In § 4.97, constant inability to communicate by speech is 100 under DC 6519, and constant inability to speak above a whisper is 60. The DC 6519 note says to evaluate incomplete aphonia as laryngitis, chronic (DC 6516). 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 sentence is about complete organic aphonia. DC 7202’s own percentage lines are about oral nutritional intake and swallowing.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7202, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
Absent intake is 100
The 100 percent cell is “Absent oral nutritional intake.” The 60 and 30 percent cells both require intact oral nutritional intake and permanently impaired swallowing function. The 60 percent cell adds prescribed dietary modification. The 30 percent cell is without that modification.
Prescribed
Note (2) says dietary modifications due to this condition must be prescribed by a medical provider. The 60 percent cell uses the words “prescribed dietary modification.”
Speech is a different code
Note (1) sends speech-impairment residuals to DC 6519 or to DC 6516. Those codes are in the respiratory schedule. They are not extra percentage lines printed under DC 7202.
Evidence that speaks to each level
100
What the rater needs to see. Absent oral nutritional intake.
Where that usually lives. The record that describes how nutrition is taken.
60
What the rater needs to see. Intact oral nutritional intake, permanently impaired swallowing, and prescribed dietary modification.
Where that usually lives. The swallowing findings and the medical provider’s prescription for the dietary modification. Note (2) requires that prescription.
30
What the rater needs to see. Intact oral nutritional intake and permanently impaired swallowing, without prescribed dietary modification.
Where that usually lives. The swallowing findings.
Speech residuals
What the rater needs to see. Residuals of speech impairment, rated as DC 6519 or as chronic laryngitis under DC 6516.
Where that usually lives. The speech findings, read with those two codes and, for complete organic aphonia, § 4.96(c).
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Oral and Dental” under Dental & Oral. The file is Oral and Dental.
The exam form
DC 7202 prints 100, 60, and 30, plus the speech note and the prescription note. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.
Related codes and how they interact
Lips and other mouth injury are neighboring codes.
DC 7200 rates soft tissue injury of the mouth, other than tongue or lips, as disfigurement under diagnostic codes 7800 and 7804 and impairment of mastication. DC 7201 rates injuries of the lips as disfigurement under diagnostic codes 7800 and 7804. DC 7202 prints its own 100, 60, and 30 percent lines.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “tongue.” This page does not add DC 7202 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 loss of the whole or part of the tongue?
Under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7202 rates absent oral nutritional intake at 100 percent, and permanently impaired swallowing with intact oral intake at 60 or 30 percent depending on prescribed dietary modification. Speech residuals are rated under DC 6519 or DC 6516. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Does DC 7202 print a zero percent line?
No. The lowest printed line is 30. Section 4.31 applies when the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation and the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
FAQ
What are the ratings for loss of the tongue under DC 7202?
100 percent for absent oral nutritional intake. 60 percent for intact oral nutritional intake with permanently impaired swallowing that requires prescribed dietary modification. 30 percent for intact oral nutritional intake with permanently impaired swallowing without that modification. Education only.
Who has to prescribe the diet?
Note (2) says dietary modifications due to this condition must be prescribed by a medical provider.
Where do speech residuals go?
Note (1) says to rate residuals of speech impairment as complete organic aphonia (DC 6519) or incomplete aphonia as laryngitis, chronic (DC 6516).
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7202, whether oral nutritional intake is absent or intact, and whether a medical provider prescribed a dietary modification.
- 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 digestive codes are on the digestive diagnostic-code index. The category page is digestive conditions.
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 Digestive, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Digestive codes
- DC 7200Soft tissue injury of the mouth, other than tongue or lips
- DC 7201Lips, injuries
- DC 7203Esophagus, stricture
- DC 7204Esophageal motility disorder
- DC 7205Esophagus, diverticulum
- DC 7206Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- DC 7207Barrett's esophagus
- DC 7301Peritoneum, adhesions of, due to surgery, trauma, or infection
- DC 7303Chronic complications of upper gastrointestinal surgery
- DC 7304Peptic ulcer disease
- DC 7307Gastritis, chronic
- DC 7308Postgastrectomy syndromes
- DC 7309Stomach, stenosis
- DC 7310Stomach, injury of, residuals
- DC 7311Liver, injury of, residuals
- DC 7312Cirrhosis of the liver
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7202 • 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.