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

VA Diagnostic Code 6027Cataract:

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

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In short

Summary

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)

The ladder

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

Cataract (VA Diagnostic Code 6027)

Organs of Special Sense (Eye) — Rated under 38 CFR § 4.79

Understanding Cataract Ratings

A cataract is a condition affecting the eye. Under the VA rating schedule, cataract is assigned Diagnostic Code 6027 and is evaluated using the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye.

How your cataract is evaluated depends on whether it has been treated surgically:

  • Preoperative (before surgery): The condition is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye.
  • Postoperative with a replacement lens (pseudophakia): If a replacement lens is present, the condition is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye.
  • Postoperative without a replacement lens: If there is no replacement lens, the condition is evaluated based on aphakia (Diagnostic Code 6029).

Available Rating Levels

Because cataract is rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, ratings can be based on factors such as impairment of visual acuity, incapacitating episodes, or a minimum evaluation where certain criteria are met. The following levels appear in the rating data associated with this formula:

Ratings Based on Incapacitating Episodes

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

Minimum Evaluations

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

Ratings Based on Impairment of Visual Acuity

When rated on visual acuity, the assigned percentage depends on the combination of vision in each eye. Ratings within this formula range from 0% up to 100%, based on measured visual acuity in the affected eye or eyes. Examples from the rating data include:

  • 100% — such as no more than light perception in both eyes, or anatomical loss of both eyes
  • 90% / 80% / 70% / 60% / 50% / 40% / 30% / 20% / 10% — assigned according to the specific combination of visual acuity measurements in each eye (for example, ranging from 5/200 down to 20/40)
  • 0% — for example, vision measured at 20/40 (6/12) in the other eye under the lowest listed combination

The exact percentage is determined by matching your documented visual acuity readings to the corresponding entry in the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye.

What the VA Looks For

When rating a cataract under Diagnostic Code 6027, the VA considers:

  • Whether the condition is preoperative or postoperative, and if postoperative, whether a replacement lens (pseudophakia) is present.
  • Documented incapacitating episodes, measured by the number of treatment visits required for an eye condition during the past 12 months.
  • Impairment of visual acuity, based on measured vision in each eye.
  • Whether continuous medication is required, which supports a minimum evaluation.

Documentation such as treatment records and measured visual acuity is central to how these ratings are applied.

This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.79 for Diagnostic Code 6027. It is provided for general informational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating outcome.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.79, diagnostic code 6027. 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 6027 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Organs of Special Sense (Eye) codes may cover your secondary conditions.

Find out which rating your evidence supports.

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