Administration (VHA) determinations VBA makes for dental treatment purposes when to prepare a rating for dental treatment purposes service trauma for dental treatment purposes conditions SC only for dental treatment purposes dental conditions not considered SC even for treatment purposes separate consideration of each condition for dental treatment purposes dental conditions on service entry and aggravation for treatment purposes SC for dental treatment noted at entry and treated during service, and extracted teeth from chronic periodontal disease processing dental treatment claims involving multiple periods of service tooth numbering systems use of Navy dental records in determinations of SC use of Army dental records to determine defective or missing teeth at enlistment, and dental examinations in treatment claims. Change Date July 20, 2015 a. Interpreting Claims Raising Dental Issues Use the table below to interpret claims raising dental issues. If the claim... Then ... seeks “service connection” or “compensation” for a dental disability the issue is entitlement to SC for compensation purposes of the specified dental disability. Note: A dental disability denotes a disorder that can be SC for compensation purposes, and evaluated under, or by appropriate analogy to, the , 9900-series DCs, and a disorder that is not listed in (treatable carious teeth, replaceable missing teeth, dental or alveolar abscesses, or periodontal disease) or in (calculus, acute periodontal disease, third molars, impacted or malposed teeth, or other developmental defects). clearly seeks “compensation” for a dental/oral condition that is not a dental disability. the issue is entitlement to SC for compensation purposes of the specified condition. clearly seeks only “dental treatment,” “service connection for dental treatment refer the claim to the nearest VA medical center (VAMC) dental clinic of jurisdiction or eligibility
purposes,” or equivalent wording clerk for determination of eligibility, and do not develop and/or decide the claim unless or until the medical center requests a determination on VA Form 10-7131, Exchange of Beneficiary Information and Request for Administrative Action. seeks “service connection” for a dental/oral condition that is not a dental disability clarify the claim before taking other action. Explanation: SC can be established for compensation purposes and/or for treatment purposes. RO personnel must neither refer a claim to the medical center as a treatment claim if not clear, nor decide the issue of SC for compensation purposes of a dental/oral condition that is not a dental disability unless the claimant is clearly seeking compensation. seeks “service connection” for an unspecified dental disorder (wording such as “dental “or “dental condition”) clarify the claim before taking other action. Explanation: The intent could be to seek a determination of SC for compensation purposes or for treatment purposes and the description is insufficient to determine whether the dental disorder or condition is a dental disability. seeks treatment for a dental disability for which SC for compensation purposes is possible but not previously established clarify the claim before taking other action. Explanation: The claimant could be seeking treatment only, but could also be eligible for SC for compensation purposes, which may be relevant treatment eligibility. Treatment can be provided for non-compensable and compensable dental disabilities that are SC for compensation purposes, and dental conditions (treatable carious teeth, replaceable missing teeth, dental or alveolar abscesses, and periodontal disease) specified in . References: For more information on determining the issues and clarifying claims, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 6.B using a claimant’s entries on VA Form 21-526 to determine which benefit he/she is seeking, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 2.B.1.c sympathetic reading doctrine, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 6.B and Part III, Subpart iv, 4.H.1.b, and