Visual field defects
The VA rates Visual field defects under Diagnostic Code 6080 across 6 severity levels, from 10% to 100%. The applicable level depends on the full criteria and the evidence for the condition. These percentages are alternatives, not amounts to add together.
Rating schedule — DC 6080 at a glance
- Minimum rating
- 10%
- Maximum rating
- 100%
- Rating tiers
- 6
- CFR section
- § 4.79
- Body system
- Organs of Special Sense
- Secondary conditions
- 0
Lowest schedular rating available
Full schedular disability
10%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%
Where this code is published
None mapped
What are the VA rating criteria for Visual field defects?
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Unilateral Note: Measured by standard perimetry. Rate separately from visual acuity loss. |
| 20% | Unilateral |
| 30% | Homonymous hemianopsia |
| 50% | Bilateral |
| 70% | Bilateral |
| 100% | Bilateral |
“Bilateral”
What other organs of special sense conditions does the VA rate?
These diagnostic codes sit next to Visual field defects in 38 CFR Part 4. The rating schedule is ordered anatomically, so neighbouring codes usually cover the same joint, organ, or system, and a claim often involves more than one of them.
- 6030Paralysis of accommodation (due to neuropathy of the Oculomotor Nerve (cranial nerve III)).Rated up to 20%
- 6036Status post corneal transplantRated up to 10%
- 6061Anatomical loss of both eyes 1Rated up to 100%
- 6062No more than light perception in both eyes 1Rated up to 100%
- 6063Anatomical loss of one eye: 1Rated up to 100%
- 6064No more than light perception in one eye: 1Rated up to 100%
- 6065Vision in one eye 5/200 (1.5/60)Rated up to 80%
- 6066Visual Acuity, Impairment ofRated up to 100%
- 6081Scotoma, unilateralRated up to 10%
- 6091SymblepharonRated up to 0%
What to do with a Visual field defects rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
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- The VA C&P Exam Explained: Before, During, and AfterA VA C&P exam helps VA decide service connection and your rating. Here is what happens before, during, and after, plus how to request your exam report.
- VA Service Connection Evidence 101: The Three-Legged StoolFor an original claim tied to active-duty service, VA needs a current disability, an in-service event, and a link between them. Here is what each part takes.
- VA Math Explained: How Combined Disability Ratings Really WorkVA ratings do not add. Learn how 38 CFR 4.25 combines disabilities using whole-person efficiency, why 50 and 30 round to 70, and how the bilateral factor works.
- TDIU: 100 Percent VA Pay Without a 100 Percent RatingTDIU pays the 100% VA compensation rate without a 100% rating. See the percentage paths, the extraschedular route under 38 CFR 4.16(b), and how work affects it.
- P&T vs 100% VA Disability: What Is the Difference?Permanent and total (P&T) and a 100 percent VA rating are not the same thing. Here is what total, permanent, and protected each mean, and what P&T unlocks.
Common Questions About Visual field defects VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Visual field defects?
The VA rates Visual field defects under Diagnostic Code 6080 at 10%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%. The minimum 10% rating requires: Unilateral. The maximum 100% rating requires: Bilateral.
Which 38 CFR diagnostic code does the VA use for Visual field defects?
The VA rates Visual field defects under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6080, published in 38 CFR § 4.79. The diagnostic code establishes the specific rating tiers and severity criteria the VA examiner applies.
What is the difference between a 10% and a 100% rating for Visual field defects?
A 10% rating requires: Unilateral. A 100% rating requires: Bilateral. The difference typically reflects the frequency, severity, or functional impact of the condition as documented in medical records and C&P examination findings.
Can Visual field defects qualify for TDIU?
Yes — a 100% rating for Visual field defects alone meets the single-disability threshold for TDIU (38 CFR § 4.16). If the condition prevents substantially gainful employment, the veteran is compensated at the 100% rate without a schedular 100% rating.
What evidence supports a higher rating for Visual field defects?
The key evidence for Visual field defects is documentation of how the condition affects daily functioning. Treatment records showing worsening symptoms, functional limitations documented by your provider, and buddy statements describing observable impact on daily life all strengthen the claim. A nexus letter from a qualified medical professional linking the current severity to service is essential for contested claims.
What happens at the C&P exam for Visual field defects?
The C&P examiner uses a Organs of Special Sense DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 6080 rating criteria. The examiner documents symptom frequency, severity, and functional impact. Bring all treatment records and describe your worst days, not your best — the VA rates on the full clinical picture across time, not a snapshot of one good day.
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