EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Loss of Inferior Half of Visual Field
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.79 (Eye) · reviewed 2026-05-17 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Loss of Inferior Half of Visual Field is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6080 of 38 CFR § 4.77, DC 6080 across 2 severity tiers (30% / 10%). 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 lower half of the visual field in one or both eyes (inferior altitudinal defect). Most commonly caused by anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), branch retinal artery occlusion of superior vessels, or occipital cortex injury. The functional impact on reading and walking is significant — the schedule rates bilateral inferior loss at 30% (the same as bitemporal/homonymous hemianopia).
RATING CRITERIA (2 LEVELS)
30%
DC 6080 verbatim — "Loss of inferior half of visual field, Bilateral": 30 percent. Loss of the lower half of the visual field in both eyes (bilateral inferior altitudinal defect). Most commonly bilateral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), bilateral upper branch retinal artery occlusion, or bilateral occipital infarcts affecting the upper bank of the calcarine cortex. Alternative (verbatim): "Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/70 (6/21)" under the DC 6066 acuity table — use whichever is higher per the § 4.79 General Rule.
10%
DC 6080 verbatim — "Loss of inferior half of visual field, Unilateral": 10 percent. Loss of the lower half of the visual field in one eye only, with normal fellow eye. Alternative (verbatim): "Or evaluate each affected eye as 20/70 (6/21)" — evaluate the affected eye through the DC 6066 acuity table if it yields a higher rating.
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