EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Optic Neuritis / Optic Neuropathy
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.79 (Eye) · reviewed 2026-05-17 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Optic Neuritis / Optic Neuropathy is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6026 of 38 CFR § 4.79, DC 6026 across 1 severity tier (0%). 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
Inflammation (optic neuritis) or damage (optic neuropathy) to the optic nerve, causing sudden or progressive vision loss, color vision changes, and pain with eye movement. May be associated with multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, toxic exposures, or vascular disease.
RATING CRITERIA (1 LEVELS)
0%
No standalone schedular percentage tier under DC 6026. Rate on resulting visual impairment under § 4.79: visual acuity (DCs 6061-6066), visual fields (DCs 6080-6081), or muscle function/diplopia (DC 6090). Where optic neuritis is associated with multiple sclerosis, the underlying MS (DC 8018) is also rated separately under § 4.124a.
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