Condition Rating Guides
Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…
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Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…
A condition where the cornea thins and bulges outward into a cone shape, causing blurred vision and sensitivity to light. The VA rates based on the level of visual impairment with your best corrective lenses.
The VA rates this condition based on objective clinical measurements and test results. The examiner will use standardized tests or lab values to determine the severity of your condition rather than relying primarily on subjective symptom reports.
Diagnostic code
DC 6035
Rating range
0% – 30%
Rating levels
4
Rating criteria are defined in 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6035. This guide presents a plain-language summary and is not a substitute for the full regulatory text. Always consult a VSO or VA-accredited attorney for case-specific advice.
Your keratoconus causes significant visual impairment. Your corrected visual acuity is 20/100 or worse, or you have required corneal transplant surgery.
What the VA looks for
Conditions commonly associated with Keratoconus or rated under the same body system.
Tinnitus
Bilateral Hearing Loss
Meniere's Disease (Endolymphatic Hydrops)
Dry Eye Syndrome
Glaucoma
Cataracts
Peripheral Vestibular Disorder
Diabetic Retinopathy