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Impairment of Central Visual Acuity
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.79 (Eye) · reviewed 2026-05-17 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Impairment of Central Visual Acuity is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6063 of 38 CFR § 4.79, DC 6061--6066 across 9 severity tiers (100% / 90% / 80% / 70% / 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
Reduced visual acuity (sharpness of vision) measured at distance with best correction. VA rates based on best-corrected Snellen acuity in each eye, cross-referenced via paired-acuity tables. Covers the full range from non-compensable (both eyes 20/40 or better) through 100% bilateral blindness; the worse the fellow eye, the higher the rating. Anatomical loss / light perception only carries a "Footnote 1: Review for SMC entitlement under 38 CFR § 3.350" flag.
RATING CRITERIA (9 LEVELS)
100%
DC 6061: Anatomical loss of both eyes. DC 6062: No more than light perception in both eyes. DC 6063: Anatomical loss of one eye with the other eye 5/200 (1.5/60) or worse. DC 6064: No more than light perception in one eye with the other eye 5/200 (1.5/60) or worse.
90%
DC 6063: Anatomical loss of one eye with the other eye 10/200 (3/60). DC 6064: No more than light perception in one eye with the other eye 10/200 (3/60).
80%
DC 6063: Anatomical loss of one eye with the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60). DC 6064: No more than light perception in one eye with the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60).
70%
DC 6063: Anatomical loss of one eye with the other eye 20/200 (6/60). DC 6064: No more than light perception in one eye with the other eye 20/200 (6/60).
60%
DC 6063: Anatomical loss of one eye with the other eye 20/100 (6/30) or 20/70 (6/21). DC 6064: No more than light perception in one eye with the other eye 20/100 (6/30).
50%
DC 6063: Anatomical loss of one eye with the other eye 20/50 (6/15). DC 6064: No more than light perception in one eye with the other eye 20/70 (6/21).
40%
DC 6063: Anatomical loss of one eye with the other eye 20/40 (6/12). DC 6064: No more than light perception in one eye with the other eye 20/50 (6/15).
30%
DC 6064: No more than light perception in one eye with the other eye 20/40 (6/12). For both-eye impairments where neither is anatomically lost (DC 6065 = 5/200 in one eye, DC 6066 = 10/200 or better in one eye — DC 6066 has seven sub-tables per vision-in-one-eye level: 10/200, 15/200, 20/200, 20/100, 20/70, 20/50, 20/40), consult the verbatim § 4.79 table or the sibling bilateral-visual-acuity-impairment entry. (The previously-numbered DC 6067-6079 codes were consolidated into DC 6063-6066 by § 4.79 amendment; reference those only if interpreting older paperwork.)
0%
Both eyes 20/40 (6/12) or better, best-corrected — non-compensable. Per § 4.75, only best-corrected Snellen acuity counts; refractive error is not service-connectable per § 3.303(c).
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