Claim Raven explanation
What this means
VA evaluates visual impairment through visual acuity, visual fields, and eye-muscle function when applicable. The examination must identify the disease or injury responsible and meet the professional requirements in the rule.
Acuity describes clarity of sight, while a visual field describes the area a person can see. These are different findings, and the section includes rules for combining or limiting particular evaluations.
How this helps your claim
This helps you understand why an eye claim may require more than reading an eye chart. Check the cause of the impairment and whether the relevant types of testing were addressed.
What to check in your records
Use your decision, examination reports, and relevant records to check the following points.
- Find the diagnosed eye disease or injury and the examiner's credentials.
- Identify acuity, field, and muscle-function findings that were medically indicated.
- Compare the affected eyes and findings with the evaluation method VA used.
Separate clarity, field and muscle-function findings
Visual acuity describes clarity of sight, while field testing addresses the area visible and muscle-function testing addresses another aspect of vision. A single statement that vision is poor may not show which function is impaired or what the rating method requires.
Keep the examination's diagnosis and each applicable test result identifiable for both eyes. The general provisions also contain combination and limitation rules. Those instructions should be considered before treating multiple visual findings as separate percentages that can simply be added.
Does a glasses prescription show the whole visual disability?
No. A prescription is not the same as the measured acuity, field or muscle-function findings used for evaluation. The appropriate professional examination supplies those results and their medical context. This section helps identify which visual functions need consideration, not calculate a rating from lens strength alone.
Official regulatory text
38 CFR § 4.75
eCFR snapshot: September 3, 2026. Layout and spacing are adapted for reading. The full section and its tables are included below.
§ 4.75 General considerations for evaluating visual impairment.
(a) Visual impairment. The evaluation of visual impairment is based on impairment of visual acuity (excluding developmental errors of refraction), visual field, and muscle function.
(b) Examination for visual impairment. The examination must be conducted by a licensed optometrist or by a licensed ophthalmologist. The examiner must identify the disease, injury, or other pathologic process responsible for any visual impairment found. Examinations of visual fields or muscle function will be conducted only when there is a medical indication of disease or injury that may be associated with visual field defect or impaired muscle function. Unless medically contraindicated, the fundus must be examined with the claimant's pupils dilated.
(c) Service-connected visual impairment of only one eye. Subject to the provisions of 38 CFR 3.383(a), if visual impairment of only one eye is service-connected, the visual acuity of the other eye will be considered to be 20/40 for purposes of evaluating the service-connected visual impairment.
(d) Maximum evaluation for visual impairment of one eye. The evaluation for visual impairment of one eye must not exceed 30 percent unless there is anatomical loss of the eye. Combine the evaluation for visual impairment of one eye with evaluations for other disabilities of the same eye that are not based on visual impairment (e.g., disfigurement under diagnostic code 7800).
(e) Anatomical loss of one eye with inability to wear a prosthesis. When the claimant has anatomical loss of one eye and is unable to wear a prosthesis, increase the evaluation for visual acuity under diagnostic code 6063 by 10 percent, but the maximum evaluation for visual impairment of both eyes must not exceed 100 percent. A 10-percent increase under this paragraph precludes an evaluation under diagnostic code 7800 based on gross distortion or asymmetry of the eye but not an evaluation under diagnostic code 7800 based on other characteristics of disfigurement.
(f) Special monthly compensation. When evaluating visual impairment, refer to 38 CFR 3.350 to determine whether the claimant may be entitled to special monthly compensation. Footnotes in the schedule indicate levels of visual impairment that potentially establish entitlement to special monthly compensation; however, other levels of visual impairment combined with disabilities of other body systems may also establish entitlement.
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1114 and 1155)
[73 FR 66549, Nov. 10, 2008]
Related references
- 38 USC § 1114: Disability Compensation and SMC in Federal Law
- 38 CFR § 4.1: What a VA disability rating measures
- 38 CFR § 3.159: VA duty to assist: records and examinations
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