Loss of Part of Skull
DC 5296
Skull
Loss of Part of Skull is a VA-ratable condition under diagnostic code 5296 in the Skull category. Maximum rating: 80%.
Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 80% | Brain is coming through the skull. |
| 50% | Loss area larger than size of a 50-cent piece or 1.140 in2. |
| 30% | Loss area between 10% and 50%. |
| 10% | Loss of skull area smaller than the size of a 25-cent piece or 0.716 in2. |
Filing Tips
Pro Tip: The VA won't connect the dots for you. That's your job. Build the paper trail before you file.
Gather medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of this condition.
Document in-service events, injuries, or exposures that caused or aggravated this condition.
Consider a nexus letter from a medical professional linking your condition to service.
Review the rating criteria for DC 5296 to understand what symptoms warrant higher ratings.