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Homonymous Hemianopia
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.79 (Eye) · reviewed 2026-05-17 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Homonymous Hemianopia is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6080 of 38 CFR § 4.77, DC 6080 across 1 severity tier (30%). 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
Loss of the same half of the visual field in both eyes (left or right), caused by damage to the optic tract, lateral geniculate nucleus, or visual cortex on one side of the brain. Common after stroke, TBI, or brain tumors. Significantly impacts reading, driving, and spatial awareness. Rated at a flat 30% under DC 6080 — unlike the temporal/nasal/inferior/superior half-field rows, homonymous hemianopsia has NO "or evaluate each affected eye as <Snellen>" rate-as alternative.
RATING CRITERIA (1 LEVELS)
30%
DC 6080 verbatim — "Homonymous hemianopsia": 30 percent. Loss of either the right or left half of the visual field in both eyes due to a post-chiasmal lesion (occipital cortex, optic radiations, or optic tract). NOTE: unlike the temporal-half / nasal-half / inferior-half / superior-half rows in DC 6080, the homonymous hemianopsia row does NOT carry a "or evaluate each affected eye as <Snellen>" rate-as alternative — it is a flat 30%. Quadrantanopsia (loss of one quadrant) is rated separately under DC 6081 at 10% minimum.
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