Reference: 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6027

Sources & Related Guides

What is the VA rating for Cataracts?

Rated on pre-operative impairment of visual acuity; post-operative aphakia or pseudophakia evaluated under DC 6029.

Condition Overview & Clinical Scope

Rated on pre-operative impairment of visual acuity; post-operative aphakia or pseudophakia evaluated under DC 6029.

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Explore Cataracts Criteria & Tools

Start AssessmentAnswer condition-scoped questions using documented findings from your records or exam notes.ContinuePercentage GuideSee the published percentage tiers and what changes between them.ContinueSecondary ConditionsSee conditions commonly connected to this one in VA claims.Continue

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Common Questions & FAQs

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What are you trying to understand about cataracts?

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Overview

About this condition

Rated on pre-operative impairment of visual acuity; post-operative aphakia or pseudophakia evaluated under DC 6029.

Regulatory authority: 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6027

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.

30%

Highest listed pathway

Pre-operative lens opacity with visual acuity reduced to 20/70 or post-surgical aphakia without IOL.

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 6027 establishes the 30% evaluation criteria.
What the published criteria say
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 6027.
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
cataracts; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 6027

20%

Next: 30%

Post-operative pseudophakia with intraocular lens replacement and mild visual reduction.

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 6027 establishes the 20% evaluation criteria.
What the published criteria say
Medical records must document the specific functional findings and clinical thresholds corresponding to the 20% level.
Examples
Veteran has clinical documentation demonstrating the 20% criteria under 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6027.
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
cataracts; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 6027

10%

Next: 20%

Lens opacity causing glare, halos, and visual acuity reduction corrected to 20/40.

What separates the next level: Differs from the 20% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
38 CFR 4.79, DC 6027 establishes the 10% evaluation criteria.
What the published criteria say
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 6027.
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
cataracts; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 6027

0%

Next: 10%

Early cataractous changes without functional reduction in visual acuity.

What separates the next level: Differs from the 10% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
38 CFR 4.79, DC 6027 establishes the 0% evaluation criteria.
What the published criteria say
Medical records must document the specific functional findings and clinical thresholds corresponding to the 0% level.
Examples
Veteran has clinical documentation demonstrating the 0% criteria under 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6027.
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
cataracts; 38 CFR Part 4; DC 6027

Learn

Understand the details behind the criteria

Use these short guides to connect published terms with the records and observations that may clarify them.

Preoperative visual acuity impairment versus postoperative status

Cataracts cause lens clouding that impairs visual acuity. The schedule evaluates the degree of visual deficit prior to surgery or residual impairment following lens replacement.

  • Before surgery, evaluations reflect uncorrected and corrected distance and near visual acuity measured with standard eye charts.
  • Following cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation (pseudophakia), ratings are based on any remaining corrected visual acuity impairment or postoperative complications.
  • If a lens is removed without replacement (aphakia), specific rating provisions account for the loss of natural focusing ability.

Records to review: Snellen or Goldmann visual acuity testing records for distance and near vision; Ophthalmology operative reports detailing cataract extraction and lens implant; Postoperative follow-up evaluations assessing corrected visual acuity.

Evidence

Evidence that may clarify the published criteria

Cataracts DBQ

The DBQ organizes diagnosis and clinical findings for Cataracts.

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.

VA forms and DBQs (from VA.gov)

Downloadable DBQs & Supporting Claim Forms

The public DBQ shows the kinds of findings an examiner may record. A veteran may review it, or may share it with a private clinician, before a C&P exam. RatingScope does not tell any person what to submit.

Terminology

Plain-English terms

Common Questions

Questions veterans commonly ask

How is Cataracts evaluated?

Rated on pre-operative impairment of visual acuity; post-operative aphakia or pseudophakia evaluated under DC 6029.

What separates the 30% rating from adjacent levels?

Highest compensable evaluation defined under this diagnostic code.

What separates the 20% rating from adjacent levels?

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

What separates the 10% rating from adjacent levels?

Differs from the 20% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

What separates the 0% rating from adjacent levels?

Differs from the 10% tier based on frequency, objective test measurements, or treatment intensity.

Related Conditions

Continue learning through connected topics

Ready when you are

Cataracts is evaluated under the Eye Conditions assessment

RatingScope compares Cataracts records using the published criteria in the Eye Conditions assessment. Compare your documented records against the criteria.

Informational guidance only. RatingScope does not predict, decide, or guarantee VA outcomes.

Compare records in the Eye Conditions assessment

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Continue Understanding

External source/reference

38 CFR 4.97, DC 6027

Official regulation source for Cataracts. Use the official source for current rule text.

Open 38 CFR 4.97, DC 6027

External source/reference

VA Cataracts DBQ

Public VA DBQ showing the kinds of findings that may be documented.

Open VA Cataracts DBQ

Secondary conditions

Conditions commonly connected to Cataracts

No commonly documented secondary connections are tracked for Cataracts yet.

Educational Guides & Evidence Resources

In-depth analysis of DBQ forms, medical evidence thresholds, and rating schedules for Cataracts.

How VA Rates Eye Conditions: Visual Acuity, Field Loss, Cataracts, and Glaucoma Guide

Learn how the VA evaluates vision loss and eye diseases under 38 CFR 4.79, central visual acuity, visual field contraction, cataracts, and glaucoma ratings.

Eye Conditions C&P Exam & DBQ Guide: Evidence and Vision Testing

Understand the VA Eye Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), best-corrected Snellen acuity, Goldmann perimetry, diplopia, and incapacitating episodes.

Visual Acuity VA Rating Criteria: DC 6061-6066 Combined Eye Tables Guide

Learn how the VA evaluates central visual acuity loss under 38 CFR 4.75-4.77, Diagnostic Codes 6061-6066 paired-eye tables, and the single-eye 20/40 rule.

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Related Tools

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

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Understand the whole-person method, final rounding, and bilateral limits, then calculate how percentages combine.

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Evidence Center

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

Open Evidence Center