Loss of Smell and Taste DBQ explained

What this DBQ covers

The smell and taste questionnaire records the diagnosis, history, symptoms, testing and functional effects of sensory loss. Smell and taste are separate findings even though people often describe changes in food flavor as a single problem. The clinician needs to identify the affected sense and the nature of the loss rather than infer it from a general statement that food tastes different.

The important sections, explained

Smell and taste are assessed separately

The symptom section asks separately about loss of smell and loss of taste, including the extent of each loss. Explain whether you notice a reduction, an absence or a change in sensation, and when it began. Food seeming less flavorful is useful history, but it should not automatically be recorded as complete loss of taste. The clinician determines which sense is affected and how your description fits the clinical findings.

Read the official form: page 2

Cause and testing

The form asks whether there is a known anatomical or pathological basis for the condition and documents relevant testing. In plain terms, the examiner is considering what physical or disease process explains the loss. Bring records from the evaluation that identified the problem, including any specialist assessment. Do not test yourself with hazardous substances to prove a loss. Describe ordinary observations and let the clinician select and interpret appropriate smell or taste testing.

Read the official form: page 4

How to prepare useful information

Describe when the change began, whether it is constant or intermittent and how it affects specific activities. Provide relevant treatment or testing records and explain any injury or illness history already documented. Practical concerns might involve food preparation or noticing odors, but report only what you have actually experienced. The clinician should evaluate the cause and extent of the sensory deficit.

Records to gather

Start with records you already have. Bring the relevant information to your clinician and explain any gaps or uncertain dates.

• Records of assessment or testing for smell and taste changes.
• Dated treatment, injury or illness records relevant to the onset history.
• Specific examples of the sensory change and its impact, noting whether one or both senses are affected.

A detail that is easy to miss

Avoid using complete loss when you still notice some smells or tastes. Explain the remaining sensation and any variation instead. If symptoms followed an illness, injury or treatment, provide the timeline and relevant records, but distinguish that sequence from a medical conclusion about causation. Earlier and current levels of function may need separate descriptions.

Find your way around the official form

These section headings come from the linked VA PDF. Each link opens the page where the section begins. Read the form's own instructions for the full questions and any required attachments.

1. SECTION I - DIAGNOSISPage 1
2. SECTION II - MEDICAL HISTORYPage 2
3. SECTION III - SYMPTOMSPage 2
4. SECTION IV - OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS, COMPLICATIONS, CONDITIONS, SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND SCARSPage 3
5. SECTION V - DIAGNOSTIC TESTINGPage 4
6. SECTION VI - FUNCTIONAL IMPACTPage 4
7. SECTION VII - REMARKSPage 5
8. SECTION VIII - EXAMINER'S CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATUREPage 5

Who completes the clinical sections?

The healthcare provider completes the clinical assessment, identifies the records reviewed, and signs the questionnaire. You can gather records and describe symptoms and daily limitations. Measurements, diagnoses, and clinical conclusions belong to the examiner.

Check the official form's instructions with your provider before the appointment, including any examination or testing requirements. VA does not pay or reimburse the costs of having a private DBQ completed or submitted.

A completed DBQ can help document the medical condition. Whether it also answers a particular service-connection question depends on its content and the other evidence. VA may verify the form or request another examination.

Common questions

Are reduced flavor and complete loss of taste the same finding?

Not necessarily. Everyday descriptions can involve smell, taste or both. Explain what you notice and let the clinician assess the appropriate finding. The DBQ separates symptoms and testing so a general description is not automatically treated as a complete loss of either sense.

Do I need a home test before the appointment?

No home experiment is needed to complete your history. Report ordinary observations and bring any existing clinical testing. Avoid exposure to chemicals, spoiled food or other hazards. The clinician decides which evaluation is appropriate and how the results should be documented.

Can I describe practical effects as well as the loss itself?

Yes. Explain changes in eating or ordinary activities that you have actually noticed. Keep the description specific to your experience and do not infer a rating from it. The functional history adds context to the separate symptom and testing sections of the questionnaire.