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Bilateral Visual Acuity Impairment (DC 6066)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.79 (Eye) · reviewed 2026-05-17 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Bilateral Visual Acuity Impairment (DC 6066) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6066 of 38 CFR § 4.76, § 4.79, DC 6066 across 10 severity tiers (90% / 80% / 70% / 60% / 50%…). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Reduced visual acuity in BOTH eyes where neither eye is anatomically lost, light-perception only, or at 5/200 (those higher-severity findings rate under DC 6063, DC 6064, or DC 6065 respectively). DC 6066 covers the seven sub-tables for vision-in-one-eye 10/200, 15/200, 20/200, 20/100, 20/70, 20/50, and 20/40 — each paired with fellow-eye Snellen acuity to yield a rating from 0% to 90% across 28 pairings. Common clinical drivers: bilateral diabetic retinopathy, bilateral macular degeneration (AMD), bilateral cataracts (postoperative residuals), retinitis pigmentosa, optic neuropathy.
RATING CRITERIA (10 LEVELS)
90%
DC 6066 verbatim — Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60), in the other eye 10/200 (3/60): 90 percent. Both eyes at the worst DC 6066 tier (this is the bridge tier between DC 6066 and the DC 6063-6065 framework where the same Snellen pairing rates 100%).
80%
DC 6066 verbatim — TWO pathways yield 80%: (a) Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60), in the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60). (b) Vision in one eye 15/200 (4.5/60), in the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60).
70%
DC 6066 verbatim — THREE pathways yield 70%: (a) Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60), in the other eye 20/200 (6/60). (b) Vision in one eye 15/200 (4.5/60), in the other eye 20/200 (6/60). (c) Vision in one eye 20/200 (6/60), in the other eye 20/200 (6/60).
60%
DC 6066 verbatim — THREE pathways yield 60%: (a) Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60), in the other eye 20/100 (6/30). (b) Vision in one eye 15/200 (4.5/60), in the other eye 20/100 (6/30). (c) Vision in one eye 20/200 (6/60), in the other eye 20/100 (6/30).
50%
DC 6066 verbatim — TWO pathways yield 50%: (a) Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60), in the other eye 20/70 (6/21). (b) Vision in one eye 20/100 (6/30), in the other eye 20/100 (6/30).
40%
DC 6066 verbatim — THREE pathways yield 40%: (a) Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60), in the other eye 20/50 (6/15). (b) Vision in one eye 15/200 (4.5/60), in the other eye 20/70 (6/21). (c) Vision in one eye 20/200 (6/60), in the other eye 20/70 (6/21).
30%
DC 6066 verbatim — FIVE pathways yield 30%: (a) Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60), in the other eye 20/40 (6/12). (b) Vision in one eye 15/200 (4.5/60), in the other eye 20/50 (6/15). (c) Vision in one eye 20/200 (6/60), in the other eye 20/50 (6/15). (d) Vision in one eye 20/100 (6/30), in the other eye 20/70 (6/21). (e) Vision in one eye 20/70 (6/21), in the other eye 20/70 (6/21).
20%
DC 6066 verbatim — FOUR pathways yield 20%: (a) Vision in one eye 15/200 (4.5/60), in the other eye 20/40 (6/12). (b) Vision in one eye 20/200 (6/60), in the other eye 20/40 (6/12). (c) Vision in one eye 20/100 (6/30), in the other eye 20/50 (6/15). (d) Vision in one eye 20/70 (6/21), in the other eye 20/50 (6/15).
10%
DC 6066 verbatim — THREE pathways yield 10%: (a) Vision in one eye 20/100 (6/30), in the other eye 20/40 (6/12). (b) Vision in one eye 20/70 (6/21), in the other eye 20/40 (6/12). (c) Vision in one eye 20/50 (6/15), in the other eye 20/50 (6/15).
0%
DC 6066 verbatim — Vision in one eye 20/50 (6/15), in the other eye 20/40 (6/12): 0 percent (non-compensable). Implicitly: Vision in one eye 20/40 (6/12), in the other eye 20/40 (6/12) is the 0% baseline — both eyes correctable to 20/40 or better is the threshold for non-compensable acuity loss per § 4.75.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.79 (Eye). Source verified 2026-05-17 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026