Statutes, codes, and regulations
Code of Federal Regulations
Title 38 - PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEFChapter I - DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRSPart 4 - SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIESSubpart B - DISABILITY RATINGS
THE ORGANS OF SPECIAL SENSE
Section 4.79 - Schedule of ratings-eye

38 C.F.R. § 4.79

Download
PDF
Current through October 31, 2024
Section 4.79 - Schedule of ratings-eye

Diseases of the Eye

Rating
General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye:
Evaluate on the basis of either visual impairment due to the particular condition or on incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring 7 or more treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months60
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 5 but less than 7 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months40
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 but less than 5 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months20
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 1 but less than 3 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months10
Note (1): For the purposes of evaluation under 38 CFR 4.79 , an incapacitating episode is an eye condition severe enough to require a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment purposes
Note (2): Examples of treatment may include but are not limited to: Systemic immunosuppressants or biologic agents; intravitreal or periocular injections; laser treatments; or other surgical interventions
Note (3): For the purposes of evaluating visual impairment due to the particular condition, refer to 38 CFR 4.75 - 4.78 and to § 4.79 , diagnostic codes 6061-6091
6000 Choroidopathy, including uveitis, iritis, cyclitis, or choroiditis.
6001 Keratopathy.
6002 Scleritis.
6006 Retinopathy or maculopathy not otherwise specified
6007 Intraocular hemorrhage.
6008 Detachment of retina.
6009 Unhealed eye injury.
Note: This code includes orbital trauma, as well as penetrating or non-penetrating eye injury
6010 Tuberculosis of eye:
Active100
Inactive: Evaluate under § 4.88c or § 4.89 of this part, whichever is appropriate
6011 Retinal scars, atrophy, or irregularities:
Localized scars, atrophy, or irregularities of the retina, unilateral or bilateral, that are centrally located and that result in an irregular, duplicated, enlarged, or diminished image10
Alternatively, evaluate based on the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, if this would result in a higher evaluation
6012 Angle-closure glaucoma
Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required10
6013 Open-angle glaucoma
Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required10
6014 Malignant neoplasms of the eye, orbit, and adnexa (excluding skin):
Malignant neoplasms of the eye, orbit, and adnexa (excluding skin) that require therapy that is comparable to those used for systemic malignancies, i.e., systemic chemotherapy, X-ray therapy more extensive than to the area of the eye, or surgery more extensive than enucleation100
Note: Continue the 100 percent rating beyond the cessation of any surgical, X-ray, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic procedure. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating will be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination will be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, evaluate based on residuals
Malignant neoplasms of the eye, orbit, and adnexa (excluding skin) that do not require therapy comparable to that for systemic malignancies:
Separately evaluate visual and nonvisual impairment, e.g., disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800), and combine the evaluations
6015 Benign neoplasms of the eye, orbit, and adnexa (excluding skin):
Separately evaluate visual and nonvisual impairment, e.g., disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800), and combine the evaluations
6016 Nystagmus, central10
6017 Trachomatous conjunctivitis:
Active: Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, minimum rating30
Inactive: Evaluate based on residuals, such as visual impairment and disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800)
6018 Chronic conjunctivitis (nontrachomatous):
Active: Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, minimum rating10
Inactive: Evaluate based on residuals, such as visual impairment and disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800)
6019 Ptosis, unilateral or bilateral:
Evaluate based on visual impairment or, in the absence of visual impairment, on disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800).
6020 Ectropion:
Bilateral20
Unilateral10
6021 Entropion:
Bilateral20
Unilateral10
6022 Lagophthalmos:
Bilateral20
Unilateral10
6023 Loss of eyebrows, complete, unilateral or bilateral10
6024 Loss of eyelashes, complete, unilateral or bilateral10
6025 Disorders of the lacrimal apparatus (epiphora, dacryocystitis, etc.):
Bilateral20
Unilateral10
6026 Optic neuropathy
6027 Cataract:
Preoperative: Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye
Postoperative: If a replacement lens is present (pseudophakia), evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. If there is no replacement lens, evaluate based on aphakia (diagnostic code 6029)
6029 Aphakia or dislocation of crystalline lens:
Evaluate based on visual impairment, and elevate the resulting level of visual impairment one step.
Minimum (unilateral or bilateral)30
6030 Paralysis of accommodation (due to neuropathy of the Oculomotor Nerve (cranial nerve III)).20
6032 Loss of eyelids, partial or complete:
Separately evaluate both visual impairment due to eyelid loss and nonvisual impairment, e.g., disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800), and combine the evaluations.
6034 Pterygium:
Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800), conjunctivitis (diagnostic code 6018), etc., depending on the particular findings, and combine in accordance with § 4.25
6035 Keratoconus
6036 Status post corneal transplant:
Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum, if there is pain, photophobia, and glare sensitivity10
6037 Pinguecula:
Evaluate based on disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800).
6040 Diabetic retinopathy
6042 Retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa, wet or dry macular degeneration, early-onset macular degeneration, rod and/or cone dystrophy)
6046 Post-chiasmal disorders
Impairment of Central Visual Acuity
6061 Anatomical loss of both eyes1100
6062 No more than light perception in both eyes1100
6063 Anatomical loss of one eye:1
In the other eye 5/200 (1.5/60)100
In the other eye 10/200 (3/60)90
In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60)80
In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)70
In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)60
In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)60
In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)50
In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)40
6064 No more than light perception in one eye:1
In the other eye 5/200 (1.5/60)100
In the other eye 10/200 (3/60)90
In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60)80
In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)70
In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)60
In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)50
In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)40
In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)30
6065 Vision in one eye 5/200 (1.5/60):
In the other eye 5/200 (1.5/60)1100
In the other eye 10/200 (3/60)90
In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60)80
In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)70
In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)60
In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)50
In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)40
In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)30
6066 Visual acuity in one eye 10/200 (3/60) or better:
Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60):
In the other eye 10/200 (3/60)90
In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60)80
In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)70
In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)60
In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)50
In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)40
In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)30
Vision in one eye 15/200 (4.5/60):
In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60)80
In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)70
In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)60
In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)40
In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)30
In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)20
Vision in one eye 20/200 (6/60):
In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)70
In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)60
In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)40
In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)30
In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)20
Vision in one eye 20/100 (6/30):
In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)50
In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)30
In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)20
In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)10
Vision in one eye 20/70 (6/21):
In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)30
In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)20
In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)10
Vision in one eye 20/50 (6/15):
In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)10
In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)10
Vision in one eye 20/40 (6/12):
In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)0

1 Review for entitlement to special monthly compensation under 38 CFR 3.350 .

Ratings for Impairment of Visual Fields

Rating
6080 Visual field defects:
Homonymous hemianopsia30
Loss of temporal half of visual field:
Bilateral30
Unilateral10
Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/70 (6/21)
Loss of nasal half of visual field:
Bilateral10
Unilateral10
Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/50 (6/15)
Loss of inferior half of visual field:
Bilateral30
Unilateral10
Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/70 (6/21)
Loss of superior half of visual field:
Bilateral10
Unilateral10
Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/50 (6/15)
Concentric contraction of visual field:
With remaining field of 5 degrees:1
Bilateral100
Unilateral30
Or evaluate each affected eye as 5/200 (1.5/60)
With remaining field of 6 to 15 degrees:
Bilateral70
Unilateral20
Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/200 (6/60)
With remaining field of 16 to 30 degrees:
Bilateral50
Unilateral10
Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/100 (6/30)
With remaining field of 31 to 45 degrees:
Bilateral30
Unilateral10
Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/70 (6/21)
With remaining field of 46 to 60 degrees:
Bilateral10
Unilateral10
Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/50 (6/15)
6081 Scotoma, unilateral:
Minimum, with scotoma affecting at least one-quarter of the visual field (quadrantanopsia) or with centrally located scotoma of any size10
Alternatively, evaluate based on visual impairment due to scotoma, if that would result in a higher evaluation

1 Review for entitlement to special monthly compensation under 38 CFR 3.350 .

Ratings for Impairment of Muscle Function

Degree of diplopia Equivalent
visual acuity
6090 Diplopia (double vision):
(a) Central 20 degrees5/200 (1.5/60)
(b) 21 degrees to 30 degrees
(1) Down15/200 (4.5/60)
(2) Lateral20/100 (6/30)
(3) Up20/70 (6/21)
(c) 31 degrees to 40 degrees
(1) Down20/200 (6/60)
(2) Lateral20/70 (6/21)
(3) Up20/40 (6/12)
Note: In accordance with 38 CFR 4.31 , diplopia that is occasional or that is correctable with spectacles is evaluated at 0 percent.
6091 Symblepharon:
Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, lagophthalmos (diagnostic code 6022), disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800), etc., depending on the particular findings, and combine in accordance with § 4.25

38 C.F.R. §4.79

73 FR 66550 , Nov. 10, 2008, as amended at 83 FR 15321 , Apr. 10, 2018

Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1155

83 FR 15321 , 5/13/2018