Can Glaucoma be service-connected as secondary to Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis)?

Yes. Under 38 CFR § 3.310, a condition that is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted secondary service connection. Chronic inflammation can increase intraocular pressure. You'll need a current Glaucoma diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis), the same standard the VA uses for any secondary claim.

What evidence do I need to service-connect Glaucoma as secondary to Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis)?

Strong evidence for the underlying Glaucoma diagnosis includes: Optometry records tracking eye pressure and vision over time; Visual field tests measuring the extent of any vision loss; Ophthalmologist reports documenting the diagnosis and treatment plan; An ophthalmology report documenting the diagnosis. For the secondary link itself, a nexus letter from a treating provider explaining how Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis) caused or aggravated Glaucoma is typically the deciding piece of evidence. If the claim is that a pre-existing Glaucoma got worse, include records showing how severe it was before it worsened: VA will not concede aggravation unless the baseline is established by medical evidence created before the worsening began, or by the earliest medical evidence after it (38 CFR 3.310(b)).

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Secondary Condition Claim · DC 6013

Glaucoma Secondary to Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis)

A condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted its own service connection as a secondary condition under 38 CFR § 3.310. Here's how that works for Glaucoma when it develops after Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis).

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Why is Glaucoma linked to Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis)?

Chronic inflammation can increase intraocular pressure.

Primary condition · VASRD 6000

Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis)

Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye that can cause redness, pain, and vision problems.

Secondary condition · VASRD 6013

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases in which pressure inside the eye damages the optic nerve, narrowing the field of vision over time. The VA schedule codes it in two forms — open-angle glaucoma (DC 6013) and angle-closure glaucoma (DC 6012) — and gives them word-for-word identical rating instructions.

How does secondary service connection work?

When the service-connected condition caused it: 38 CFR § 3.310(a): “Except as provided in § 3.300(c), disability which is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury shall be service connected. When service connection is thus established for a secondary condition, the secondary condition shall be considered a part of the original condition.”
When it made an existing condition worse: 38 CFR § 3.310(b): “Any increase in severity of a nonservice-connected disease or injury that is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury, and not due to the natural progress of the nonservice-connected disease, will be service connected.” VA will not concede aggravation unless medical evidence establishes the baseline severity; it then deducts that baseline, and any natural progress, from the current level.
How strong the evidence for the link has to be: 38 U.S.C. § 5107(b): “When there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding any issue material to the determination of a matter, the Secretary shall give the benefit of the doubt to the claimant.” When the positive and negative evidence on the link is in approximate balance, VA gives the benefit of the doubt to the veteran.
What VA means by reasonable doubt: 38 CFR § 3.102: “By reasonable doubt is meant one which exists because of an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence which does not satisfactorily prove or disprove the claim.”
A statute that asks for an “at least as likely as not” medical opinion: 38 U.S.C. § 1168(a)(1)(B): “obtain a medical opinion (to be requested by the Secretary in connection with the medical examination under subparagraph (A)) as to whether it is at least as likely as not that there is a nexus between the disability and the toxic exposure risk activity.” § 1168 covers exams and opinions in toxic-exposure claims. For any claim for VA benefits, § 5107(b) above gives the veteran the benefit of the doubt when the evidence is in approximate balance.

How is Glaucoma rated as a secondary condition?

If Glaucoma was caused by the service-connected condition, VA rates it on its own severity under its own diagnostic code, as part of the original condition (38 CFR 3.310(a)). If Glaucoma existed first and the service-connected condition made it worse, VA compensates only the worsening: it rates the baseline and current severity and deducts the baseline, and any natural progression, from the current level (38 CFR 3.310(b)). Read 38 CFR § 3.310.

Rating	Criteria
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.
10%	With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 1 but less than 3 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months; or, the minimum evaluation where continuous medication is required.
0%	[38 CFR 4.31] Where no route produces a compensable evaluation — no qualifying incapacitating episodes, no continuous medication requirement, and no compensable visual impairment — a zero percent evaluation is assigned.

Example combined rating

40% Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis) + 10% Glaucoma = 50% combined

The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition: 40% and 10% combine to a Table I value of 46%, which VA converts to a 50% combined rating under 38 CFR 4.25, not 50%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.

What evidence does a secondary Glaucoma claim need?

•Optometry records tracking eye pressure and vision over time.
•Visual field tests measuring the extent of any vision loss.
•Ophthalmologist reports documenting the diagnosis and treatment plan.
•An ophthalmology report documenting the diagnosis.
•A formal visual field test measuring the extent of peripheral vision loss.
•OCT (optical coherence tomography) scans imaging the optic nerve directly.

Common questions about Glaucoma secondary to Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis)

Can Glaucoma be service-connected as secondary to Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis)?: Yes. Under 38 CFR § 3.310, a condition that is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted secondary service connection. Chronic inflammation can increase intraocular pressure. You'll need a current Glaucoma diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis), the same standard the VA uses for any secondary claim.
What VA rating can I get for Glaucoma as a secondary condition?: Glaucoma is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 6013. Possible VA ratings for Glaucoma are 60%, 40%, 20%, 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. If Glaucoma was caused by the service-connected condition, VA rates it on its own severity under its own diagnostic code, as part of the original condition (38 CFR 3.310(a)). If Glaucoma existed first and the service-connected condition made it worse, VA compensates only the worsening: it rates the baseline and current severity and deducts the baseline, and any natural progression, from the current level (38 CFR 3.310(b)).
How does a secondary Glaucoma claim affect my combined VA rating?: The VA doesn't add ratings together. With example figures of 40% for Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis) and 10% for Glaucoma: 40% and 10% combine to a Table I value of 46%, which VA converts to a 50% combined rating under 38 CFR 4.25, not 50%. Approving Glaucoma as secondary still typically raises your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
What evidence do I need to service-connect Glaucoma as secondary to Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis)?: Strong evidence for the underlying Glaucoma diagnosis includes: Optometry records tracking eye pressure and vision over time; Visual field tests measuring the extent of any vision loss; Ophthalmologist reports documenting the diagnosis and treatment plan; An ophthalmology report documenting the diagnosis. For the secondary link itself, a nexus letter from a treating provider explaining how Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis) caused or aggravated Glaucoma is typically the deciding piece of evidence. If the claim is that a pre-existing Glaucoma got worse, include records showing how severe it was before it worsened: VA will not concede aggravation unless the baseline is established by medical evidence created before the worsening began, or by the earliest medical evidence after it (38 CFR 3.310(b)).

Primary condition

Full Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis) guide

Secondary condition

Full Glaucoma guide

Every secondary condition, grouped by condition

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