Reference: 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6015

Sources & Related Guides

What is the VA rating for Macular Degeneration?

Rated on loss of central visual acuity and central visual field defects under 38 CFR § 4.75 and § 4.76a.

Condition Overview & Clinical Scope

Rated on loss of central visual acuity and central visual field defects under 38 CFR § 4.75 and § 4.76a.

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Explore Macular Degeneration Criteria & Tools

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Common Questions & FAQs

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Overview

About this condition

Rated on loss of central visual acuity and central visual field defects under 38 CFR § 4.75 and § 4.76a.

Regulatory authority: 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6015

This guide provides regulatory reference criteria under 38 CFR Part 4. RatingScope does not provide medical diagnoses or predict adjudicative outcomes.

Percentage Guides

Understanding Your Percentage

Select a pathway to see what the published criteria ask about, what records may clarify it, and what should not be assumed.

100%

Highest listed pathway

Bilateral legal blindness with corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in both eyes.

What separates the next level: Highest compensable evaluation defined under this diagnostic code.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
38 CFR 4.79, DC 6015 establishes the 100% evaluation criteria.
Qualification explanation
Medical records must document the specific functional findings and clinical thresholds corresponding to the 100% level.
Examples
Veteran has clinical documentation demonstrating the 100% criteria under 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6015.
Medical evidence
Eye Conditions DBQ (VA Form 21-0960D-1); Clinical treatment progress notes; Diagnostic testing reports
Functional impact examples
Documented impairment affecting daily physical or occupational performance.
Common misconceptions
A clinical diagnosis alone without documented severity does not guarantee a compensable rating.
Related topics
macular-degeneration; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 6015

60%

Next: 100%

Visual acuity corrected to 20/100 or central scotoma affecting reading and functional tasks.

What separates the next level: Differs from the 100% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
38 CFR 4.79, DC 6015 establishes the 60% evaluation criteria.
Qualification explanation
Medical records must document the specific functional findings and clinical thresholds corresponding to the 60% level.
Examples
Veteran has clinical documentation demonstrating the 60% criteria under 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6015.
Medical evidence
Eye Conditions DBQ (VA Form 21-0960D-1); Clinical treatment progress notes; Diagnostic testing reports
Functional impact examples
Documented impairment affecting daily physical or occupational performance.
Common misconceptions
A clinical diagnosis alone without documented severity does not guarantee a compensable rating.
Related topics
macular-degeneration; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 6015

30%

Next: 60%

Moderate central vision loss corrected to 20/70 in the better eye.

What separates the next level: Differs from the 60% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
38 CFR 4.79, DC 6015 establishes the 30% evaluation criteria.
Qualification explanation
Medical records must document the specific functional findings and clinical thresholds corresponding to the 30% level.
Examples
Veteran has clinical documentation demonstrating the 30% criteria under 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6015.
Medical evidence
Eye Conditions DBQ (VA Form 21-0960D-1); Clinical treatment progress notes; Diagnostic testing reports
Functional impact examples
Documented impairment affecting daily physical or occupational performance.
Common misconceptions
A clinical diagnosis alone without documented severity does not guarantee a compensable rating.
Related topics
macular-degeneration; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 6015

10%

Next: 30%

Documented macular changes with minimal central vision impairment corrected to 20/40.

What separates the next level: Differs from the 30% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
38 CFR 4.79, DC 6015 establishes the 10% evaluation criteria.
Qualification explanation
Medical records must document the specific functional findings and clinical thresholds corresponding to the 10% level.
Examples
Veteran has clinical documentation demonstrating the 10% criteria under 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6015.
Medical evidence
Eye Conditions DBQ (VA Form 21-0960D-1); Clinical treatment progress notes; Diagnostic testing reports
Functional impact examples
Documented impairment affecting daily physical or occupational performance.
Common misconceptions
A clinical diagnosis alone without documented severity does not guarantee a compensable rating.
Related topics
macular-degeneration; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 6015

Evidence

Evidence that may clarify the published criteria

Macular Degeneration DBQ

The DBQ organizes diagnosis and clinical findings for Macular Degeneration.

A DBQ is useful context, but RatingScope does not require uploads and this hub does not accept records.

Diagnosis and treatment records

Treatment notes can show the current condition, course over time, therapy, and clinician observations.

A diagnosis alone does not identify which percentage pathway applies.

Official VA Forms & DBQs

Downloadable DBQs & Supporting Claim Forms

Take the public DBQ to your private physician or review it prior to your C&P examination.

Terminology

Plain-English terms

Common Questions

Questions veterans commonly ask

How is Macular Degeneration evaluated?

Rated on loss of central visual acuity and central visual field defects under 38 CFR § 4.75 and § 4.76a.

What separates the 100% rating from adjacent levels?

Highest compensable evaluation defined under this diagnostic code.

What separates the 60% rating from adjacent levels?

Differs from the 100% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

What separates the 30% rating from adjacent levels?

Differs from the 60% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

What separates the 10% rating from adjacent levels?

Differs from the 30% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Related Conditions

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External source/reference

38 CFR 4.97, DC 6015

Official regulation source for Macular Degeneration. Use the official source for current rule text.

Open 38 CFR 4.97, DC 6015

Secondary conditions

Conditions commonly connected to Macular Degeneration

No commonly documented secondary connections are tracked for Macular Degeneration yet.

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Related Tools

Compare a percentage level and combined-rating math, or review evidence context.

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Evidence Center

Understand common evidence categories and what they can clarify without treating them as a checklist.

Open Evidence Center