EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Retinitis Pigmentosa
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.79 (Eye) · reviewed 2026-05-17 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Retinitis Pigmentosa is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6042 of 38 CFR § 4.79, DC 6042 (retinal dystrophy — verbatim DC includes retinitis pigmentosa per § 4.79) 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
Inherited group of retinal dystrophies causing progressive degeneration of photoreceptors (rods first, then cones), leading to night blindness, progressive peripheral visual field constriction (tunnel vision), and eventual central vision loss. May be service-connected if aggravated during military service.
RATING CRITERIA (1 LEVELS)
0%
No standalone schedular tier under DC 6042. Rate on resulting visual impairment: acuity loss (DCs 6061-6066) or visual-field constriction (DCs 6080-6081), whichever yields the higher evaluation. RP characteristically presents with progressive concentric visual-field constriction, so DC 6080 typically controls.
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