EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Orbital Fracture (Blowout Fracture)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.79 (Eye) · reviewed 2026-05-17 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Orbital Fracture (Blowout Fracture) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6009 of 38 CFR § 4.79, DC 6009 (unhealed eye injury — primary anatomic code); diplopia residual may add DC 6090 rate-as per § 4.78; disfigurement may add DC 7800 per § 4.118 across 4 severity tiers (10% / 20% / 40% / 60%). 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
Fracture of the bony walls of the eye socket (orbit), most commonly the orbital floor (blowout fracture) or medial wall. Often caused by blunt force trauma. May cause enophthalmos (sunken eye), diplopia from muscle entrapment, infraorbital nerve numbness, and restricted eye movement.
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
10%
Active residuals with 1 or 2 incapacitating episodes per year. Or rate on visual impairment if higher.
20%
3 or 4 incapacitating episodes per year.
40%
5 or 6 incapacitating episodes per year.
60%
7+ incapacitating episodes per year. For complex residuals, combine the General Formula evaluation with DC 6090 diplopia (entrapment), DC 7800 disfigurement, and any associated DC 6510 sinusitis under § 4.25.
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