Organs of Special Sense (Eye)§ 4.79Updated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 6026Optic neuropathy

Rated from 0% to 100% under § 4.79. Here is what the VA requires at each level.

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What each rating requires

The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.

  1. 60%

    With documented incapacitating episodes requiring 7 or more treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months

  2. 40%

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

  3. 20%

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

  4. 10%

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

  5. 100%

    Active

  6. 10%

    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

  7. 10%

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

  8. 10%

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

  9. 100%

    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

  10. 10%

    6016 Nystagmus, central

  11. 30%

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

  12. 10%

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

  13. 20%

    Bilateral

  14. 10%

    Unilateral

  15. 20%

    Bilateral

  16. 10%

    Unilateral

  17. 20%

    Bilateral

  18. 10%

    Unilateral

  19. 10%

    6023 Loss of eyebrows, complete, unilateral or bilateral

  20. 10%

    6024 Loss of eyelashes, complete, unilateral or bilateral

  21. 20%

    Bilateral

  22. 10%

    Unilateral

  23. 30%

    Minimum (unilateral or bilateral)

  24. 20%

    6030 Paralysis of accommodation (due to neuropathy of the Oculomotor Nerve (cranial nerve III)).

  25. 10%

    Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum, if there is pain, photophobia, and glare sensitivity

  26. 100%

    6061 Anatomical loss of both eyes 1

  27. 100%

    6062 No more than light perception in both eyes 1

  28. 100%

    In the other eye 5/200 (1.5/60)

  29. 90%

    In the other eye 10/200 (3/60)

  30. 80%

    In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60)

  31. 70%

    In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)

  32. 60%

    In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)

  33. 60%

    In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)

  34. 50%

    In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)

  35. 40%

    In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)

  36. 100%

    In the other eye 5/200 (1.5/60)

  37. 90%

    In the other eye 10/200 (3/60)

  38. 80%

    In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60)

  39. 70%

    In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)

  40. 60%

    In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)

  41. 50%

    In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)

  42. 40%

    In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)

  43. 30%

    In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)

  44. 90%

    In the other eye 10/200 (3/60)

  45. 80%

    In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60)

  46. 70%

    In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)

  47. 60%

    In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)

  48. 50%

    In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)

  49. 40%

    In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)

  50. 30%

    In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)

  51. 90%

    In the other eye 10/200 (3/60)

  52. 80%

    In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60)

  53. 70%

    In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)

  54. 60%

    In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)

  55. 50%

    In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)

  56. 40%

    In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)

  57. 30%

    In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)

  58. 80%

    In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60)

  59. 70%

    In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)

  60. 60%

    In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)

  61. 40%

    In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)

  62. 30%

    In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)

  63. 20%

    In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)

  64. 70%

    In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)

  65. 60%

    In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)

  66. 40%

    In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)

  67. 30%

    In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)

  68. 20%

    In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)

  69. 50%

    In the other eye 20/100 (6/30)

  70. 30%

    In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)

  71. 20%

    In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)

  72. 10%

    In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)

  73. 30%

    In the other eye 20/70 (6/21)

  74. 20%

    In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)

  75. 10%

    In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)

  76. 10%

    In the other eye 20/50 (6/15)

  77. 10%

    In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)

  78. 0%

    In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)

How it is applied

General rating formula

General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye

Optic Neuropathy — VA Disability Rating (Diagnostic Code 6026)

Body System: Organs of Special Sense (Eye) · Regulation: § 4.79 · Rated under: General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye

What This Condition Is

Optic neuropathy is a condition affecting the optic nerve — the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. The VA lists it under Diagnostic Code 6026 and evaluates it using the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye found in § 4.79.

Under this framework, your evaluation may be based on documented incapacitating episodes (measured by treatment visits over the past 12 months), whether the condition is active, whether continuous medication is required, and/or the degree of impairment of visual acuity in each eye.

Available Rating Levels

Rated by Incapacitating Episodes (treatment visits in the past 12 months)

RatingCriteria
60%Documented incapacitating episodes requiring 7 or more treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months
40%Documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 5 but less than 7 treatment visits during the past 12 months
20%Documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 but less than 5 treatment visits during the past 12 months
10%Documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 1 but less than 3 treatment visits during the past 12 months

Active Disease and Continuous Medication

RatingCriteria
100%Active
10%Evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye — minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required

Rated by Impairment of Visual Acuity

When rated on visual acuity, the evaluation depends on the measured acuity in each eye. Examples from the rating formula include:

RatingExample Criteria (acuity in the other eye)
100%5/200 (1.5/60) in the other eye
90%10/200 (3/60) in the other eye
80%15/200 (4.5/60) in the other eye
70%20/200 (6/60) in the other eye
60%20/100 (6/30) or 20/70 (6/21) in the other eye
50%20/70 (6/21) or 20/50 (6/15) in the other eye
40%20/50 (6/15) or 20/70 (6/21) in the other eye
30%20/40 (6/12) or 20/50 (6/15) in the other eye
20%20/40 (6/12) or 20/50 (6/15) in the other eye
10%20/40 (6/12) or 20/50 (6/15) in the other eye
0%20/40 (6/12) in the other eye

Visual acuity ratings are assigned based on the specific combination of acuity measured in each eye. The examples above are drawn from the schedule and reflect the range of levels available.

What the VA Looks For

  • Documented incapacitating episodes — specifically, the number of treatment visits required for an eye condition during the past 12 months.
  • Whether the condition is active.
  • Whether continuous medication is required — this establishes a minimum evaluation of 10%.
  • Measured visual acuity in each eye, when the condition is rated under the impairment-of-visual-acuity portion of the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye.

This information summarizes the VA rating schedule entry for Diagnostic Code 6026 under 38 CFR § 4.79. It is provided for general educational purposes and does not predict or promise any specific rating outcome.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.79, diagnostic code 6026. The official version is the one that governs your rating.

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What next

How to claim this

Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.

  1. Find your level in the stack

    Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.

  2. Name the gap

    Look at the rung above yours and write down exactly what it asks for that your file does not show yet — a diagnosis, a measurement, a prescribed brace, a doctor’s opinion linking it to service.

  3. Claim it by code

    File under diagnostic code 6026 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Organs of Special Sense (Eye) codes may cover your secondary conditions.

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