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

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 macular degeneration?

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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.
What the published criteria say
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.
What the published criteria say
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.
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 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.
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 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

Learn

Understand the details behind the criteria

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

Central vision loss, scotoma mapping, and injection therapy

Macular degeneration affects the central part of the retina, impairing detailed vision, reading ability, and facial recognition, while generally preserving peripheral vision.

  • Evaluations center on central visual acuity in each eye and the presence of central blind spots (scotomas).
  • The dry form involves slow geographic atrophy, while the wet form involves abnormal blood vessel growth that may require repeated intravitreal anti-VEGF injections.
  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and fluorescein angiography document retinal layer thinning or fluid accumulation.

Records to review: Best-corrected visual acuity measurements by an optometrist or ophthalmologist; Macular OCT scans and retinal examination documentation; Injection procedure notes showing treatment frequency and medication type.

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.

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 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

Continue learning through connected topics

Ready when you are

Macular Degeneration is evaluated under the Eye Conditions assessment

RatingScope compares Macular Degeneration 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 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.

Educational Guides & Evidence Resources

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

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.

Visual Field Loss VA Rating: DC 6080 and DC 6081 Perimetry Tables Guide

Detailed analysis of VA peripheral vision loss ratings under 38 CFR 4.76, DC 6080 concentric contraction degrees, hemianopsia, and DC 6081 scotoma rules.

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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.

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