Code of Federal Regulations Title 38. Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief § 38.4.79 Schedule of ratings—eye

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 months

60

With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 5 but less than 7 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months

40

With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 but less than 5 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months

20

With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 1 but less than 3 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months

10

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:

Active

100

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 image

10

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 required

10

6013

Open-angle glaucoma

Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required

10

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 enucleation

100

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, central

10

6017

Trachomatous conjunctivitis:

Active: Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, minimum rating

30

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 rating

10

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:

Bilateral

20

Unilateral

10

6021

Entropion:

Bilateral

20

Unilateral

10

6022

Lagophthalmos:

Bilateral

20

Unilateral

10

6023

Loss of eyebrows, complete, unilateral or bilateral

10

6024

Loss of eyelashes, complete, unilateral or bilateral

10

6025

Disorders of the lacrimal apparatus (epiphora, dacryocystitis, etc.):

Bilateral

20

Unilateral

10

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 sensitivity

10

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 eyes ¹

100

6062

No more than light perception in both eyes ¹

100

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)

¹ 100

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

6066

Visual acuity in one eye 10/200 (3/60) or better:

ion 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

sion 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

sion 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

6080

Visual field defects:

Homonymous hemianopsia

30

Loss of temporal half of visual field:

Bilateral

30

Unilateral

10

Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/70 (6/21)

Loss of nasal half of visual field:

Bilateral

10

Unilateral

10

Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/50 (6/15)

Loss of inferior half of visual field:

Bilateral

30

Unilateral

10

Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/70 (6/21)

Loss of superior half of visual field:

Bilateral

10

Unilateral

10

Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/50 (6/15)

Concentric contraction of visual field:

With remaining field of 5 degrees: ¹

Bilateral

100

Unilateral

30

Or evaluate each affected eye as 5/200 (1.5/60)

With remaining field of 6 to 15 degrees:

Bilateral

70

Unilateral

20

Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/200 (6/60)

With remaining field of 16 to 30 degrees:

Bilateral

50

Unilateral

10

Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/100 (6/30)

With remaining field of 31 to 45 degrees:

Bilateral

30

Unilateral

10

Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/70 (6/21)

With remaining field of 46 to 60 degrees:

Bilateral

10

Unilateral

10

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 size

10

Alternatively, evaluate based on visual impairment due to scotoma, if that would result in a higher evaluation

6090

Diplopia (double vision):

(a)

Central 20 degrees

5/200 (1.5/60)

(b)

21 degrees to 30 degrees

(1)

Down

15/200 (4.5/60)

(2)

Lateral

20/100 (6/30)

(3)

Up

20/70 (6/21)

(c)

31 degrees to 40 degrees

(1)

Down

20/200 (6/60)

(2)

Lateral

20/70 (6/21)

(3)

Up

20/40 (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