Diagnostic Code 6276 · 38 CFR §4.87a
Ageusia is the complete loss of the sense of taste. In veterans, this condition most frequently occurs secondary to loss of smell (anosmia) because the two senses are neurologically intertwined — much of what we perceive as taste actually comes from smell. Ageusia can also result directly from nerve damage caused by traumatic brain injury, radiation treatment to the head or neck for service-connected cancers, toxic chemical exposure damaging the taste buds, or medications prescribed for service-connected conditions. The loss of taste significantly impacts nutrition and quality of life, as veterans with ageusia often lose interest in eating, experience unintentional weight changes, and cannot detect spoiled or contaminated food. The VA assigns a single fixed 10 percent rating for complete loss of taste.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% |
Taste testing (such as spatial taste testing or whole-mouth gustatory testing) documenting the loss. ENT or neurology evaluation confirming ageusia and its likely cause. If secondary to anosmia, documentation of the smell loss and its service connection. Medical records showing the causative event: TBI, radiation therapy, toxic exposure, or the medication causing the taste loss. Service treatment records establishing the in-service event or the service-connected condition that led to taste loss. Statements describing the functional impact on nutrition, eating habits, and ability to detect spoiled food.