– MATT SAUERWALD, VICE-PRESIDENT, VETERANS HELP GROUP

Matt Sauerwald has spent years dedicating his time to Veterans who are seeking help with their VA disability benefits. Matt has proudly represented thousands of veterans with his expert knowledge of the VA disability application process and the Veterans Administration.

Today, Matt will dive deep into explaining the VA Dental Benefits and their ratings.

VA Dental Benefits and Ratings for Teeth

Problems with your teeth are considered to be disabilities by the Veterans Administration (VA) if they affect your quality of life. These problems/disabilities can include loss of teeth, tooth decay, injuries to your jaw, periodontal disease, and other pathological orofacial conditions.

VA Disability Ratings Teeth Issues

Loss of teeth by themselves is not ratable. The VA does not consider this truly disabling because they are easily replaceable by false teeth/dentures. Teeth also cannot be rated if they are lost from naturally occurring diseases related to aging. They must be lost as a result of injury, accident, or disease. Regardless of how many teeth are missing, if they can be replaced by a prosthesis or false teeth then they are rated at 0%. If your teeth cannot be replaced, they are rated as:

• 40% – All your teeth are missing.
• 30% – All your upper teeth or all your lower teeth are missing.
• 20% – All your upper and lower posterior teeth or all your upper and lower anterior teeth are missing.
• 10% – If only all your upper anterior or all your lower anterior teeth are missing. Or if all your upper and lower teeth on one side are missing.

Dental Benefits That Are Available for Veterans

The type and amount of dental care benefits depend on a veteran’s eligibility. However, care can range from regular cleanings to reconstruction surgery. Some dental services that are provided can include:

• Regularly schedule cleanings and X-rays
• Restorative procedures such as fillings, crowns, and bridges
• Dentures
• Oral surgery and tooth extractions
• Oral and facial surgery resulting from trauma or serious illness

Disabled Veteran Dental Benefits Eligibility

The amount of VA dental benefits a veteran will receive differs depending on several factors. The VA categorizes the eligibility for dental benefits into different classes, and each class determines the extent of dental benefits.

• Class I –  Veterans with a service-connected compensable dental disability or condition are eligible for any dental care needed.

• Class II – Veterans who apply for dental care within 180 days of their discharge or release from military service, who are discharged under other than dishonorable conditions, and who served on active duty for 90 or more days during the Persian Gulf War era are eligible to receive one-time dental care if their DD214 does not indicate that a complete dental examination and all appropriate dental treatment had been completed before discharge.

• Class IIA – Veterans who have a non-compensable service-connected dental condition or a dental disability that resulted from wounds in combat or service-connected trauma can receive any dental care necessary to provide and maintain a functioning dentition.

• Class IIB – Veterans who are enrolled and may be homeless and receive care under VHA Directive 2007-039 can receive a one-time course of dental care that is determined necessary to relieve pain, gain employment, or treat gingival and periodontal conditions.

• Class IIC – Former Prisoners of War are eligible to receive any needed dental care.

• Class III – Veterans who have a dental condition that the VA has clinically determined to be associated with an aggravating service-connected medical condition can receive dental care to treat the oral conditions that are determined by a VA dental professional to have a direct and material detrimental effect on the service-connected medical condition.

• Class IV – Veterans who have a service-connected condition rated at 100% disabling or receive TDIU due to their service-connected condition(s) can receive any needed dental care.

• Class V – Veterans who are actively engaged in a VA vocational rehabilitation program under 38 U.S.C Chapter 31 can receive dental care to the extent necessary as determined by a VA dental professional to:
  • Make a veteran’s entrance into the rehabilitation program possible
  • Achieve one of the veteran’s vocational rehabilitation goals
  • Prevent the veteran’s vocational rehabilitation program from being interrupted
  • Hasten a veteran’s return to a vocational rehabilitation program who has been placed in a discontinued status due to illness, injury, or dental condition
  • Enables a veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living or to secure and adjust to employment

• Class VI – Veterans who are receiving VA care or are scheduled for inpatient care and who require dental care for a condition complicating a medical condition currently under treatment are eligible for dental care to treat the oral conditions that complicate the medical condition under treatment.

What To Do Next?

Veterans Help Group has been supporting veterans in getting the benefits they deserve since 1995. If you or a loved one served, and suffer from dental conditions, we are here to help. Call our team of experienced advocates at 855-855-8992 or complete our free veterans benefits case evaluation form.

Read More Here:

• VA Disability Benefits For Bruxism: Secondary Service Connection
• New VA Dental Insurance 
• How To Speed Up Your VA Disability Claim
• How To Apply For VA Disability Benefits
• Most Commonly Approved VA Disability Claims