EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Retinal Artery Occlusion
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.79 (Eye) · reviewed 2026-05-17 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Retinal Artery Occlusion is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6006 of 38 CFR § 4.79, DC 6006 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
Blockage of a retinal artery (central or branch), causing sudden, painless vision loss due to retinal ischemia. Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an ophthalmologic emergency causing severe vision loss. Often associated with carotid artery disease, cardiac emboli, or hypercoagulable states.
RATING CRITERIA (1 LEVELS)
0%
Rate on resulting permanent visual impairment after the acute event has stabilized: acuity loss (DCs 6061-6066) and/or visual field defect (DCs 6080/6081 — typically severe sector loss after CRAO/BRAO), whichever yields the higher evaluation. Active-treatment incapacitating episodes (anti-VEGF for secondary neovascularization, retinal laser) rate under the General Rating Formula.
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