YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Impairment of Central Visual Acuity VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Impairment of Central Visual Acuity under diagnostic code 6066, in 38 CFR § 4.79 (eye conditions), and the schedule provides ten evaluation levels for it: 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% and 0%.
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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 Impairment of Central Visual Acuity
This code rates central visual acuity, how sharply you can see fine detail, using a detailed table that combines your best-corrected vision in each eye, rather than the simpler correctable-versus-not distinction used by some other vision codes. If your rating decision cites this code, both eyes' specific Snellen chart results (like 20/40 or 20/70) are what determines your tier.
Central visual acuity is not rated from a ladder of written criteria. 38 CFR 4.79's visual acuity table assigns the percentage from the combination of both eyes' corrected acuity: one axis is the vision in one eye, the other is the vision in the other eye, and the evaluation sits where they meet. DC 6066 covers the range from 10/200 (3/60) or better in one eye, and neighbouring codes 6061 to 6065 cover anatomical loss and blindness. The combinations listed below are each one route to that evaluation, not the only one - several different pairs of acuities produce the same percentage, so read the tier as an example of what reaches it rather than as the criterion. Acuity is measured corrected, so vision correctable to normal with lenses is generally not compensable.
- Diagnostic code
- 6066
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.79
- Schedule levels
- 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% and 0%
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.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Impairment of Central Visual Acuity VA rating criteria (DC 6066)
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.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Impairment of Central Visual Acuity 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 Impairment of Central Visual Acuity?
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 Impairment of Central Visual Acuity 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
Make sure the examination records each eye separately and states the corrected acuity, because the table needs both numbers to land on a percentage.
- 02
Use a current exam rather than an old prescription - this rating depends on present measurements.
- 03
Have the visual field tested at the same visit; field loss is a separate code (DC 6080) with its own evaluation.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Using an old glasses prescription instead of a current eye exam, which may not reflect your actual current acuity.
- 02
Not having a proper VA eye exam on record, leaving the claim without the specific measurements this table requires.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
No recent eye chart test, since this rating depends on current, precise acuity numbers for each eye.
- 02
Inconsistent self-reporting compared to what's actually documented in the medical record.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Central visual acuity impairment can result from aging, trauma, or chemical exposure, and often progresses gradually rather than appearing suddenly.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Impairment of Central Visual Acuity by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate
- Veterans service-connected
- ~4,200 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~30%
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 Impairment of Central Visual Acuity
Is Impairment of Central Visual Acuity a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Impairment of Central Visual Acuity under VASRD diagnostic code 6066 (Eye Conditions). This code rates central visual acuity, how sharply you can see fine detail, using a detailed table that combines your best-corrected vision in each eye, rather than the simpler correctable-versus-not distinction used by some other vision codes. If your rating decision cites this code, both eyes' specific Snellen chart results (like 20/40 or 20/70) are what determines your tier.
What VA disability rating can I get for Impairment of Central Visual Acuity?
Possible VA ratings for Impairment of Central Visual Acuity are 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 0%. Examples: 90%: Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60), in the other eye 10/200 (3/60); 80%: Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60), in the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60); 70%: Vision in one eye 10/200 (3/60), in the other eye 20/200 (6/60).
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Impairment of Central Visual Acuity?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Impairment of Central Visual Acuity at around 30%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 4,200 veterans are service-connected for Impairment of Central Visual Acuity. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate.
What evidence helps prove Impairment of Central Visual Acuity for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Impairment of Central Visual Acuity claim includes: A current eye examination recording corrected acuity for each eye separately, since the table is a combination of the two; Records showing acuity both before and after correction, because the schedule rates corrected vision; Visual field testing as well, which is rated under its own code (DC 6080) and can be evaluated separately.
Which DBQ is used for Impairment of Central Visual Acuity?
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 Impairment of Central Visual Acuity?
Common pitfalls when filing for Impairment of Central Visual Acuity: No recent eye chart test, since this rating depends on current, precise acuity numbers for each eye; Inconsistent self-reporting compared to what's actually documented in the medical record.
What conditions can be secondary to Impairment of Central Visual Acuity?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Impairment of Central Visual Acuity, when a medical opinion links them, include: Depression. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.79, Schedule of ratings, eye conditions (Diagnostic Code 6066)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two 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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