Loss of Sense of Taste (Ageusia) — VA Disability Rating Criteria (DC 6276)
Diagnostic Code 6276 · 38 CFR §4.87a
What Is It?
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
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Complete loss of sense of taste. This is the only rating level under DC 6276. The loss must be complete (ageusia) rather than partial (hypogeusia or dysgeusia). If you have distorted taste rather than absent taste, the condition may still be rated by analogy under this code. |
Evidence Needed
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.
C&P Exam Tips
The examiner may test your ability to identify basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. Be completely honest about what you can and cannot taste. If your taste loss is secondary to loss of smell, make sure the examiner documents that relationship — the two claims support each other. Describe the practical impact: changes in eating habits, weight changes, inability to detect spoiled food, reduced enjoyment of meals. If medications cause the taste loss, bring the prescription records and describe when the taste loss began relative to starting the medication. If you have any taste at all (even distorted), describe exactly what you can and cannot perceive.
How to File
File on VA Form 21-526EZ under DC 6276. If filing as secondary to service-connected anosmia (DC 6275), include evidence establishing the connection between smell and taste loss. If caused by radiation treatment for a service-connected cancer, include the radiation records. If medication-induced, document the service-connected condition requiring the medication and the onset of taste loss after starting it. File simultaneously with DC 6275 (loss of smell) if both conditions are present — they are separate ratings that combine.
Common Mistakes
Not filing separately from loss of smell Loss of taste and loss of smell are two different diagnostic codes with two separate 10 percent ratings. Many veterans only file for one when they qualify for both. Always file DC 6275 and DC 6276 together if both senses are impaired. Not getting objective taste testing Like smell, the VA wants objective test results rather than just subjective complaints. Ask for formal gustatory testing from an ENT specialist. Confusing taste distortion with taste loss Dysgeusia (distorted taste where things taste metallic or wrong) is different from ageusia (complete absence of taste). Both can be rated, but make sure your medical records accurately describe your specific condition. Not establishing the secondary connection If taste loss is secondary to anosmia, you need a medical opinion explaining the neurological relationship between smell and taste. This is well-established medical science, but it still needs to be documented in your record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive separate ratings for both loss of smell and loss of taste?
Yes. DC 6275 (anosmia) and DC 6276 (ageusia) are separate diagnostic codes with separate 10 percent ratings. If you have both conditions, you should file for both and receive both ratings. They combine under VA math for a total combined effect.
What if my taste loss is from medication side effects?
If a medication prescribed for a service-connected condition causes taste loss, the ageusia can be service-connected on a secondary basis. Common culprits include certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, ACE inhibitors, and psychiatric medications. Document when the taste loss began relative to starting the medication.
How is taste loss tested during the C&P exam?
The examiner typically applies solutions representing the four basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter) to different areas of the tongue. You indicate whether you can detect each taste and identify it. Some exams use taste strips or electrogustometry. The key is honest reporting of what you can and cannot perceive.
Is partial taste loss ratable?
Partial taste loss (hypogeusia) or distorted taste (dysgeusia) may be rated by analogy under DC 6276 at 10 percent if sufficiently severe. The condition does not have to be absolute total loss to qualify, but it must be significant and documented by testing.