Eligibility for VA dental care: A guide for veterans

From simple teeth cleanings all the way to more complex procedures like root canals, implants, and oral surgery – getting dental care as a veteran is important at every stage. Some dental conditions are more common than others among veterans, and it can be possible to get VA disability benefits or coverage of your care.

We recently covered the basics of VA dental care, including the types of benefits available to veterans, requirements that must be met, and an overview of common conditions (read it here in case you missed it). In this blog, we'll give a quick recap of that info along with a more detailed explanation about different types of veteran criteria and what they make you eligible for regarding VA dental care.

But first, a quick recap:

What types of VA dental care coverage can veterans get?

Check out our earlier blog here for a detailed rundown on the types of coverage. We'll give a quick recap here before we dive into the different eligibility categories for veterans. The following options are available to veterans who qualify:

• VA disability benefits for dental conditions: With the right treatment records documenting your dental and medical history, it's possible to earn VA disability benefits for dental conditions.

• Dental care from the VA: Some dental care services are available to veterans who meet eligibility criteria. That's what we'll be discussing in-depth below.

• VA Dental Insurance Program: Through this VA program, veterans and their families might be able to access discounted private dental insurance if they meet certain criteria.

• Community support programs for veterans: Despite the above assistance, there is still a large gap when it comes to dental care for veterans. Some community-led programs such as VETSmile aim to close that gap.

Explaining VA dental care eligibility by class

The VA has a series of different class categories that determine a veteran's eligibility for dental care coverage. Each different benefits class gets different coverage – so look below to see which categories you fall in, if any.

• Class I

  • Qualifies for: Any needed dental care

  • What's needed for eligibility: A service-connected dental disability or condition that you receive compensation for (monthly payments).

• Class IIA

  • Qualifies for: Any dental care needed to maintain a functioning dentition (that's a fancy way of saying "a working set of teeth")

  • What's needed for eligibility: A service-connected yet non-compensable dental condition, or a disability due to combat wounds or service trauma.

• Class IIB

  • Qualifies for: One-time dental care for pain relief, employability, or gum disease treatment when considered significant.

  • What's needed for eligibility: Veterans who are at risk or experiencing homelessness, who are also signed up to get care through the Homeless Veterans Dental Program.

• Class IIC

  • Qualifies for: Any needed dental care

  • What's needed for eligibility: Veterans who are former Prisoners of War (POW) fall in this class, and are eligible for any needed dental care.

• Class II

  • Qualifies for: One-time dental care

  • What's needed for eligibility: Veterans who served on active duty for 90+ days during the Persian Gulf War era who also:

    • Did not receive a dishonorable discharge

    • Applied within 180 days of discharge

    • Have a DD214 that doesn't show a complete dental exam and all needed treatment prior to discharge 

• Class III

  • Qualifies for: Dental care to treat conditions that worsen service-connected medical conditions

  • What's needed for eligibility: For this class, veterans must get a conclusion from a VA dental provider that states their dental condition is making their service-connected health condition worse.

• Class IV

  • Qualifies for: Any needed dental care

  • What's needed for eligibility: One or more service-connected disabilities that are rated 100% disabling. Unemployability, receiving disability compensation at the 100% rate due to service-connected conditions.

• Class V

  • Qualifies for: Dental care needed to participate in or achieve goals of the Chapter 31 VR&E program

  • What's needed for eligibility: Veterans who are active in a 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment program.

• Class VI

  • Qualifies for: Dental care needed to treat any dental condition that is complicating the medical condition for which the veteran is receiving VA care for.

  • What's needed for eligibility: The veteran must be getting VA care or is scheduled for inpatient care for a health condition, in need of dental care for a dental issue impacting that treatment.

We help veterans with expertly crafted medical documentation

Your medical history, our expertise. We help veterans prove their conditions to the VA through expertly crafted medical documentation including Nexus Letters, DBQs, and other additional services to boost your claim.

Ready to begin? Sign up for a Medical Evidence Assessment (every veteran starts here).

For more information, view our other services here. Our friendly medical professionals are ready to assist you with steps forward in the right direction.