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Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 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).

Why Glaucoma Is 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.

Glaucoma VA Rating Tiers

The VA rates Glaucoma the same way whether it's claimed directly or as secondary to Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis) — severity of Glaucoma itself determines the percentage.

RatingCriteria
60%7 or more treatment visits in a year
40%5 or 6 treatment visits in a year
20%3 or 4 treatment visits in a year
10%1 or 2 treatment visits a year, or daily eye drops
0%Service-connected, but no compensable impairment yet

Example combined rating

30% Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis) + 10% Glaucoma = 37%

The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition — 30% and 10% combine to 37%, not 40%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.

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Evidence for a Glaucoma Secondary Claim

  • •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 U…
What VA rating can I get for Glaucoma as a secondary condition?
Glaucoma is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 6013 using the same criteria whether it's a direct or secondary claim: possible ratings are 60%, 40%, 20%, 10%, 0%. The rating depends on the severity of Glaucoma itself, not on the severity of Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis).
How does a secondary Glaucoma claim affect my combined VA rating?
The VA doesn't add ratings together. Using the official combined-ratings formula (38 CFR 4.25): a 30% rating for Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis) combined with a 10% rating for Glaucoma (example figures) produces a combined rating of 37%, not 40%. Approving Glaucoma as secondary still typically raises your overall combine…
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…

Primary condition

Full Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis) guide

Secondary condition

Full Glaucoma guide

Estimate your combined rating

See how Uveitis (Choroiditis/Iritis) and Glaucoma combine with the rest of your service-connected conditions using the official VA combined-ratings formula.

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