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 disease that damages the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, and recognizing faces. The VA rates macular degeneration based on how much central vision you have lost, measured by visual acuity and visual field tests.
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 6011
Rating range
0% – 100%
Rating levels
5
Rating criteria are defined in 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6011. 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.
You have blindness or near-total bilateral vision loss from macular degeneration.
What the VA looks for
Conditions commonly associated with Macular Degeneration 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