Per VHA may request determinations from VBA including, but not limited d. Determinations to, whether VBA Makes for a dental condition or disability is a result of combat wounds Dental a dental condition or disability is a result of service trauma Treatment the Veteran has a noncompensable SC dental condition or disability Purposes the Veteran has a compensable SC disability. the Veteran is totally disabled due to an SC disability, or the Veteran has former Prisoner of War (FPOW) status. Notes: This does not mean a formal rating determination is always required. In many cases eligibility for outpatient dental treatment can be decided by VHA without VBA rating action based information of record. Examples include: one-time dental treatment for Veterans who apply within 180 days after military discharge (Class II) Prisoner of War status (Class II(c)) , and total disability (Class IV) In lieu of a dental treatment rating decision annotate VA Form that the Veteran is totally disabled. For more information on Reference: conditions that can be SC only for treatment purposes, see , and verification of FPOW status for dental eligibility, see . As specified in VBA will develop and decide a claim for service connection e. When to Prepare a for treatment purposes VHA only after Rating for determines that a Veteran meets the basic eligibility requirements of and Dental that VBA make a determination (provide required information or requests Treatment issuing a rating decision). Purposes Provide the determination requested. Important: only Veterans who have a noncompensable dental condition (including tooth f. Service Trauma for disorders for which service connection for compensation purposes cannot be Dental granted) resulting from combat wounds or service trauma may receive any Treatment reasonably necessary treatment for the SC dental condition under Class II(a). Purposes If VHA provides a requesting a dental trauma rating, VA Form 10-7131 prepare a rating identifying the specific tooth number(s) that were injured and identify the service trauma. , 607 F.3d 802 (Fed. Cir, 2010) determined that means Note: service trauma an injury or wound produced by an external physical force, for example striking the mouth on a vehicle, striking the mouth when falling, and biting
d. Determinations VBA Makes for Dental Treatment Purposes Per VHA may request determinations from VBA including, but not limited to, whether a dental condition or disability is a result of combat wounds a dental condition or disability is a result of service trauma the Veteran has a noncompensable SC dental condition or disability the Veteran has a compensable SC disability. the Veteran is totally disabled due to an SC disability, or the Veteran has former Prisoner of War (FPOW) status. Notes: This does not mean a formal rating determination is always required. In many cases eligibility for outpatient dental treatment can be decided by VHA without VBA rating action based information of record. Examples include: one-time dental treatment for Veterans who apply within 180 days after military discharge (Class II) Prisoner of War status (Class II(c)) , and total disability (Class IV) In lieu of a dental treatment rating decision annotate VA Form that the Veteran is totally disabled. Reference: For more information on conditions that can be SC only for treatment purposes, see , and verification of FPOW status for dental eligibility, see . e. When to Prepare a Rating for Dental Treatment Purposes As specified in VBA will develop and decide a claim for service connection for treatment purposes only after VHA determines that a Veteran meets the basic eligibility requirements of and requests that VBA make a determination (provide required information or issuing a rating decision). Important: Provide only the determination requested. f. Service Trauma for Dental Treatment Purposes Veterans who have a noncompensable dental condition (including tooth disorders for which service connection for compensation purposes cannot be granted) resulting from combat wounds or service trauma may receive any reasonably necessary treatment for the SC dental condition under Class II(a). If VHA provides a VA Form 10-7131 requesting a dental trauma rating, prepare a rating identifying the specific tooth number(s) that were injured and identify the service trauma. Note: , 607 F.3d 802 (Fed. Cir, 2010) determined that service trauma means an injury or wound produced by an external physical force, for example striking the mouth on a vehicle, striking the mouth when falling, and biting