TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960M-15 (Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Conditions) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder), based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.150, DC 9905 (temporomandibular disorder, revised 2024). Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Maximum unassisted vertical opening of 30–34 mm with no dietary restriction; or lateral excursion of 0–4 mm.
Opening of 21–29 mm with no dietary restriction (higher tiers apply with restriction to soft/semi-solid foods).
Opening of 11–20 mm with no dietary restriction (or higher tiers with restriction to soft/pureed foods).
Opening of 0–10 mm with no dietary restriction; or 11–20 mm with restriction to all mechanically altered foods.
Opening of 0–10 mm with restriction to all mechanically altered foods.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
- The prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.Secondary
Military Medicine, 2006 · nexus to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) · PMID 17153558
Finding: Among 94 Croatian war veterans with diagnosed PTSD compared with 88 age- and sex-matched non-war controls, TMD-related signs were significantly more common: headache in 63.83%, facial pain in 12.77%, and jaw pain in 10.64%, with TMJ clicking, pain on loading, and intrameatal tenderness all more prevalent in the PTSD group. The authors conclude PTSD patients are at increased risk of developing TMD symptoms.
Why it helps: A veteran-specific study that supports an association between service-related PTSD and temporomandibular disorder symptoms, directly relevant to a secondary-service-connection theory linking a service-connected PTSD to TMJ.
Cureus, 2022 · nexus to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) · PMID 36579250
Finding: A systematic review of eight observational studies found that patients with PTSD experience heightened TMD pain across all aspects, including greater chronicity, decreased response to conventional therapy, and need for more potent treatment compared with TMD patients without PTSD. The authors note the evidence, while weak, suggests a relationship between PTSD and TMDs.
Why it helps: Pooled review-level evidence supporting an association between PTSD and worse temporomandibular disorder, useful background for a TMJ-secondary-to-PTSD claim.
Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache, 2019 · nexus to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) · PMID 30153313
Finding: In a population-based sample of roughly 1,670 adults with prior traumatic events, individuals with clinical PTSD had a 2.56-fold higher odds of TMJ pain on palpation (OR 2.56; 95% CI 1.14-5.71) and a 3.86-fold higher odds of masticatory muscle pain (OR 3.86; 95% CI 1.51-9.85) versus those without PTSD. The authors specifically reference military foreign assignments as relevant context.
Why it helps: Provides quantified odds ratios linking PTSD to objective TMD signs, supporting an association that strengthens a TMJ-secondary-to-PTSD nexus argument.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2025 · nexus to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) · PMID 40346730
Finding: Network analysis of 597 patients from a specialized PTSD treatment center found a strong triangular positive association between TMD pain, awake bruxism, and sleep bruxism, with anxiety disorders acting as a bridge connecting these to PTSD symptom severity, insomnia, and mood disorders.
Why it helps: Supports an association linking PTSD, bruxism, and TMD pain in a clinically diagnosed PTSD population, reinforcing a plausible pathway from service-connected PTSD to TMJ.
BMC Oral Health, 2024 · nexus to obstructive sleep apnea / sleep bruxism · PMID 38745301
Finding: Among 106 polysomnography-confirmed obstructive sleep apnea patients, sleep bruxism prevalence was 37.1%, and bruxers had significantly more non-complaint masseter tenderness (61.5%, P=0.015) and myalgia (41%, P=0.010) consistent with DC/TMD criteria, plus higher masseter EMG tone and more hypopneas.
Why it helps: Supports an association between obstructive sleep apnea, sleep bruxism, and masticatory muscle TMD signs, relevant to a TMJ-secondary-to-sleep-apnea theory.
Journal of Dentistry, 2025 · nexus to depression / anxiety · PMID 40127752
Finding: A PRISMA systematic review of 10 observational studies found an association between bruxism, temporomandibular disorders, and psychological factors (stress, anxiety, depression), concluding that bruxism under the influence of psychological factors leads to symptoms typical of TMD.
Why it helps: Review-level support for an association between psychiatric conditions (anxiety, depression) and TMD, useful for a secondary nexus to service-connected mental health conditions.
Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache, 2024 · nexus to migraine / tension-type headache · PMID 39801093
Finding: Meta-analysis of 13 cross-sectional studies found significantly higher odds of TMD in migraine (OR 3.79; 95% CI 2.43-5.90) and tension-type headache (OR 4.45; 95% CI 2.63-7.53), with the risk even higher in chronic migraine (OR 24.27) and concentrated in painful and myogenous TMDs.
Why it helps: Quantified meta-analytic evidence linking headache disorders and TMD, supporting an association in either direction between service-connected headaches/migraine and TMJ.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2023 · nexus to tinnitus · PMID 37335244
Finding: Among 47 patients with somatosensory tinnitus, TMD was diagnosed in 97.8%, and among 50 patients presenting with TMD, somatosensory tinnitus was found in 24.0%, demonstrating a high bidirectional co-occurrence after excluding hearing, neurological, and cervicogenic causes.
Why it helps: Supports an association between TMD and tinnitus, relevant when tinnitus is claimed as secondary to a service-connected TMJ disorder (or vice versa).
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder). A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) as a Secondary Condition
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)claim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) should also be looking at:
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Draft your TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
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Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder).
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) Claim Guide by State
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Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.