How the VA Rates Vision Loss in 2026

The VA rates vision loss under diagnostic codes DC 6000–6080 using best-corrected visual acuity tables (VA Table VI) and field of vision measurements, with ratings ranging from 0% to 100% depending on severity in each eye.

Vision loss claims are among the most precisely structured in the entire VA rating system. Unlike most conditions, visual impairment is rated with an objective measurement system — your corrected visual acuity is tested, plugged into the VA's published tables, and converted into a Roman numeral value (I through XI), which then determines your rating percentage.

The VA Visual Acuity Rating System (Table VI)

The VA rates each eye separately and then combines them using a formula that weights the worse eye less than the better eye. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) — what you see with glasses or contacts at their best — is used for rating, not uncorrected vision.

Visual Acuity VA Numeric Value (Table VI)
20/40 or better I (rated 0%)
20/50 to 20/70 II
20/100 to 20/200 III
20/400 IV
Counts fingers at 5 feet V
Counts fingers at 3 feet VI
Counts fingers at 1 foot VII
Hand motion VIII
Light perception only IX
No light perception X (blindness)

If your corrected vision in both eyes is 20/40 or better, your rating is 0% — the VA does not compensate for conditions that are fully correctable with standard lenses. This is a critical threshold: many veterans who experience blurry vision find it corrects to within the 20/40 threshold with glasses, which results in 0%.

Monocular Blindness: Automatic 40% Rating

If one eye has no light perception (NLP — complete blindness in that eye, even without correction), the VA automatically assigns 40% for monocular blindness under DC 6061. This is a fixed threshold, not a table-calculated percentage. The better eye's vision does not reduce this rating.

ICD-10: H54.40 (blindness, one eye, low vision other eye) or H54.10 (blindness, one eye, other eye normal).

Total Blindness in Both Eyes: 100% + SMC

Complete loss of vision in both eyes — no light perception in either eye — earns a 100% schedular rating plus Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l), which provides additional compensation for loss of use of a creative organ or sensory organ beyond the standard rating. SMC-L adds hundreds of dollars per month above the 100% rate.

Field of Vision Loss (Perimetry)

In addition to visual acuity, the VA rates loss of visual field (peripheral vision) under DC 6080. Field of vision loss is measured in degrees using Goldmann perimetry and rated by how many of the eight clock positions (superior, inferior, nasal, temporal, and their diagonals) are significantly restricted.

Veterans with conditions like glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, or blast-related retinal damage may have relatively preserved central acuity but dramatically reduced peripheral field — the field of vision rating captures this impairment that the acuity table alone would miss.

Diplopia (Double Vision) — Rated Separately

Diplopia, or double vision, is rated separately from visual acuity impairment under DC 6090 based on the field of gaze affected. If your blast injury, TBI, or service-related condition causes double vision in addition to acuity loss, file both as separate contentions. Failing to claim diplopia separately is one of the most common missed claims in visual system ratings.

Service Connection Pathways for Veterans

Burn Pit and Toxic Exposure — PACT Act Presumptives

The PACT Act of 2022 established presumptive service connection for certain conditions in veterans who served in covered locations and were exposed to toxic substances. The VA has recognized that burn pit smoke and other toxic airborne hazards can damage the visual system. Veterans with certain corneal conditions, inflammatory eye diseases, or retinal damage following deployment to covered locations should file under the PACT Act presumptive framework. See the PACT Act explainer for covered conditions and locations.

Laser Exposure Injuries

Military personnel who worked with or near high-powered laser systems — including range-finding lasers, laser designators, and training lasers — are at risk for retinal burns and permanent vision damage. Laser retinal injuries are ratable under DC 6036 (retinal injury). Service records showing assignment to positions involving laser equipment, combined with ophthalmology records, establish the nexus.

IED Blast and Traumatic Eye Injuries

Blast overpressure from IEDs is a leading cause of traumatic eye injury in post-9/11 veterans. Mechanisms include direct fragment penetration, globe rupture, retinal detachment, traumatic hyphema, and optic nerve shockwave injury. Veterans who survived IED blasts should have complete ophthalmological workups if they have any visual symptoms — many blast-related eye injuries are delayed in onset.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) as Evidence

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging scan of the retina and optic nerve that can show structural damage invisible to standard visual acuity testing. OCT evidence is particularly valuable for blast-related retinal injuries, early macular degeneration, and optic nerve damage — conditions where subjective visual acuity may understate the true structural impairment. Request OCT imaging from your ophthalmologist if your visual system claim involves retinal or nerve damage.

Combination Approach: Acuity + Field + Diplopia

The most complete vision loss claim addresses all three measurement systems:

Each component can generate a separate rating or contribute to the combined visual impairment percentage. The VA then combines these using its rating tables and the standard combined ratings formula.

2026 Monthly Compensation for Vision Loss

Because vision loss ratings depend on specific acuity table calculations for both eyes, actual percentages vary widely. As reference points (no dependents, 2026 rates):

Use the VA disability rating calculator to see how your vision rating combines with other service-connected conditions.

Filing Your Vision Loss Claim

File on VA Form 21-526EZ. List each eye condition as a separate contention (e.g., "vision loss, left eye secondary to IED blast" and "diplopia secondary to TBI"). Request a VA ophthalmology C&P exam. Attach private ophthalmology records including best-corrected visual acuity measurements, field of vision testing, and any OCT or retinal imaging. For a full overview, see the VA disability benefits guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the VA rate uncorrected vision or corrected vision?

The VA rates best-corrected visual acuity — what you see with glasses or contact lenses. If your vision corrects to 20/40 or better, your rating is 0% regardless of how bad your uncorrected vision is. Conditions that prevent correction (corneal scarring, retinal damage) are where ratings above 0% become possible.

Can I get rated for vision loss in only one eye?

Yes. The VA rates each eye separately and monocular blindness (no light perception in one eye) earns an automatic 40% rating under DC 6061, regardless of the other eye's vision.

Does the PACT Act cover eye conditions from burn pit exposure?

Yes. The PACT Act created presumptive service connection for veterans with certain conditions who served in covered areas. Inflammatory eye disease, corneal damage, and certain retinal conditions may qualify. File specifically citing PACT Act eligibility if you served in a covered location and developed eye conditions after service.

What is the difference between visual acuity rating and field of vision rating?

Visual acuity measures how clearly you can see detail at a distance (tested with an eye chart). Field of vision measures how wide your peripheral vision is (tested with perimetry). Both are ratable and can produce separate VA ratings — file for both if your condition affects either or both.

Is double vision rated separately from vision loss?

Yes. Diplopia (double vision) is rated under DC 6090, which is separate from acuity loss. File it as a distinct contention to avoid having it subsumed into a general "vision" rating that misses this specific impairment.

Can military laser exposure cause permanent vision damage?

Yes. High-powered military lasers can cause permanent retinal burns from accidental exposure. Veterans who worked with laser designators, range finders, or were present during laser training exercises and subsequently noticed visual disturbances should file for retinal injury under DC 6036 with supporting ophthalmology records.

Get your vision loss rating estimated alongside your other conditions. Use the Rank and Pay VA Disability Rating Calculator to see how your visual impairment percentage combines with the rest of your service-connected conditions and what it means for your monthly benefit in 2026.