YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Glaucoma, angle-closure VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Glaucoma, angle-closure under diagnostic code 6012, in 38 CFR § 4.79 (eye conditions), and the schedule provides four evaluation levels for it: 60%, 40%, 20% and 10%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Glaucoma, angle-closure
Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when the eye's drainage angle is blocked and pressure builds inside the eye, damaging the optic nerve. It is diagnostic code 6012, and the schedule gives it the same rating instruction as open-angle glaucoma (DC 6013).
DC 6012 and DC 6013 carry no rating criteria of their own. Each reads: "Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required — 10." That formula is evaluated "on the basis of either visual impairment due to the particular condition or on incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation," so there are two routes and VA applies the one that pays more. The incapacitating-episodes route is the ladder in the table above and stops at 60 percent; an incapacitating episode is defined as "an eye condition severe enough to require a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment purposes." The visual-impairment route is rated under separate diagnostic codes — impairment of central visual acuity (DCs 6061-6066), visual fields (DC 6080), or muscle function (DC 6090) — and is the only route that reaches 30, 70, 80, 90 or 100 percent. Two limits govern it: where only one eye is service-connected the other eye is considered to be 20/40 (38 CFR 4.75(c)), and "the evaluation for visual impairment of one eye must not exceed 30 percent unless there is anatomical loss of the eye" (38 CFR 4.75(d)).
- Diagnostic code
- 6012
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.79
- Schedule levels
- 60%, 40%, 20% and 10%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
This code prints no 0% row. Under 38 CFR § 4.31, a 0% evaluation is assigned where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Glaucoma, angle-closure VA rating criteria (DC 6012)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
IN THE REGULATION’S OWN WORDS
What 38 CFR also says about Glaucoma, angle-closure
The notes 38 CFR Part 4 prints with these criteria, quoted. They govern how the evaluation is made without being a rating level themselves.
- “Note (1): For the purposes of evaluation under 38 CFR 4.79, an incapacitating episode is an eye condition severe enough to require a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment purposes”General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye
- “Note (2): Examples of treatment may include but are not limited to: Systemic immunosuppressants or biologic agents; intravitreal or periocular injections; laser treatments; or other surgical interventions”General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye
- “Note (3): For the purposes of evaluating visual impairment due to the particular condition, refer to 38 CFR 4.75-4.78 and to § 4.79, diagnostic codes 6061-6091”General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Glaucoma, angle-closure claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Glaucoma, angle-closure?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Glaucoma, angle-closure claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim3 tips
- 01
Document the condition's progression over time with regular eye exams, since a single visit often can't show whether the glaucoma is stable or worsening.
- 02
Include a record of eye pressure readings and any treatment plan (drops, laser treatment, or surgery), since ongoing management is evidence of an active, chronic condition.
- 03
Make sure visual field testing is part of your evidence, since this is the specific test that measures the vision loss the rating schedule looks for.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
An exam that shows normal vision at that particular visit, which can understate a condition that fluctuates or progresses slowly over time.
- 02
Not including actual eye pressure readings, since elevated pressure is central to confirming and tracking this diagnosis.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Submitting a claim without a formal vision test, leaving no objective measurement of the condition's severity.
- 02
Not providing clear proof connecting the condition to service, since without that link, even a well-documented diagnosis may not establish service connection.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Angle-closure glaucoma typically develops from a gradual buildup of eye pressure that often goes unnoticed until a routine eye exam catches it or vision loss becomes apparent.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Glaucoma, angle-closure by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate
- Veterans service-connected
- ~33,000 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~10%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Glaucoma, angle-closure
Is Glaucoma, angle-closure a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Glaucoma, angle-closure under VASRD diagnostic code 6012 (Eye Conditions). Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when the eye's drainage angle is blocked and pressure builds inside the eye, damaging the optic nerve. It is diagnostic code 6012, and the schedule gives it the same rating instruction as open-angle glaucoma (DC 6013).
What VA disability rating can I get for Glaucoma, angle-closure?
Possible VA ratings for Glaucoma, angle-closure are 60%, 40%, 20%, 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 60%: With documented incapacitating episodes requiring 7 or more treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months; 40%: With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 5 but less than 7 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months; 20%: With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 but less than 5 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Glaucoma, angle-closure?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Glaucoma, angle-closure at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 33,000 veterans are service-connected for Glaucoma, angle-closure. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate.
What evidence helps prove Glaucoma, angle-closure for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Glaucoma, angle-closure claim includes: An ophthalmologist's report documenting the glaucoma diagnosis and eye pressure readings; Visual field testing showing the extent of any vision loss caused by optic nerve damage.
Which DBQ is used for Glaucoma, angle-closure?
VA's Eye Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Glaucoma, angle-closure?
Common pitfalls when filing for Glaucoma, angle-closure: Submitting a claim without a formal vision test, leaving no objective measurement of the condition's severity; Not providing clear proof connecting the condition to service, since without that link, even a well-documented diagnosis may not establish service connection.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.79, Schedule of ratings, eye conditions (Diagnostic Code 6012)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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