Diagnostic Code 6519 · 38 CFR §4.97
Complete organic aphonia is the total loss of voice due to a physical (organic) cause affecting the larynx or vocal cords. Unlike functional aphonia caused by psychological factors, organic aphonia results from structural damage such as vocal cord paralysis, severe scarring, nerve damage, or loss of the vocal cords themselves. Veterans may develop this condition from laryngeal injuries, surgical complications, intubation damage, blast injuries to the neck, or nerve damage from service-related causes.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | |
| 60% |
Laryngoscopy documenting the structural cause of voice loss, ENT evaluation confirming organic (physical) aphonia versus functional (psychological), Speech pathology assessment documenting the degree of voice loss, Records of the causative injury, surgery, or condition, Service medical records linking the damage to military service