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The VA orders this exam to verify your diagnosis and measure how severe it is right now. It can shape your rating and your monthly compensation — but it does not decide your claim. A rating specialist weighs it against your full record, and if the exam does not reflect your condition, you can say so and ask the VA to correct it.
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A group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, usually caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye. Under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye the VA rates glaucoma on either visual impairment (visual acuity and visual field loss) or on documented incapacitating episodes — treatment visits in the past 12 months — whichever produces the higher evaluation.
The percentages this diagnostic code can be rated at. Which one applies depends on the findings — no tool here can tell you in advance.
Rated under 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6012 (angle-closure) and DC 6013 (open-angle) — 10% minimum if continuous medication is required; otherwise the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. The examiner records findings on the DBQ; a rating specialist makes the decision.
| Rating | Rating criteria | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | 6012 Angle-closure glaucoma … In every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. | You have glaucoma but your visual acuity and visual fields are within normal or near-normal limits. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 10% | 6012 Angle-closure glaucoma … Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required | You have glaucoma that requires continuous medication to control. This is the minimum rating when medication is needed. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 20% | General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye: Evaluate on the basis of either visual impairment due to the particular condition or on incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation … With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 but less than 5 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months | This eye condition required three or four documented treatment visits in the past 12 months. Under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye an incapacitating episode is a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment — a flare-up you rode out at home does not count. The VA evaluates on the visit count OR on your measured visual impairment, whichever is higher. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 30% | Concentric contraction of visual field: … With remaining field of 31 to 45 degrees: … Bilateral | Your glaucoma has caused moderate visual field loss — concentric contraction of the visual field to 31 to 45 degrees in both eyes. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 40% | General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye: Evaluate on the basis of either visual impairment due to the particular condition or on incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation … With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 5 but less than 7 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months | This eye condition required five or six documented treatment visits in the past 12 months. Under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye an incapacitating episode is a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment — a flare-up you rode out at home does not count. The VA evaluates on the visit count OR on your measured visual impairment, whichever is higher. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 50% | Concentric contraction of visual field: … With remaining field of 16 to 30 degrees: … Bilateral | Your glaucoma has caused severe visual field loss — concentric contraction of the visual field to 16 to 30 degrees in both eyes. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 60% | General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye: Evaluate on the basis of either visual impairment due to the particular condition or on incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation … With documented incapacitating episodes requiring 7 or more treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months | This eye condition required seven or more documented treatment visits in the past 12 months. Under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye an incapacitating episode is a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment — a flare-up you rode out at home does not count. The VA evaluates on the visit count OR on your measured visual impairment, whichever is higher. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 100% | Concentric contraction of visual field: … With remaining field of 5 degrees: 1 … Bilateral | Your glaucoma has caused total blindness in both eyes or near-total loss of visual field. |
What supports this level
| ||
The middle column is our transcription of the criteria at 38 CFR 4.79, DC 6012 (angle-closure) and DC 6013 (open-angle) — 10% minimum if continuous medication is required; otherwise the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, condensed for reading. Read the section itself on eCFR before relying on the exact wording. The items under each level are the kinds of evidence that document it — not a VA checklist, and not a prediction of which level applies to you.
The schedule splits glaucoma into two codes with identical criteria: DC 6012 (angle-closure) and DC 6013 (open-angle). Most glaucoma is open-angle. Check which code your rating decision used — the percentages are the same, but a decision coded to the wrong type is worth correcting so future increase claims track the right condition.
The published range for this diagnostic code runs to 100 percent because the code routes to visual impairment, and visual impairment reaches the highest levels only when BOTH eyes are affected. 38 CFR 4.75(d) caps visual impairment of one eye at 30 percent unless the eye is anatomically lost, and 38 CFR 4.75(c) treats an unaffected other eye as 20/40 however well it actually sees. So a single affected eye tops out at 30 percent on the visual-impairment leg; the levels above that describe bilateral disease or a visit count under the incapacitating-episodes leg.
Not understanding that glaucoma is rated on visual impairment (acuity and visual field loss) or on the number of treatment visits in the past 12 months, not just the diagnosis or eye pressure readings.
Not getting both visual acuity AND visual field (perimetry) testing — the VA can rate on either, and visual field loss alone can support a high rating even with decent visual acuity.
Not requesting the minimum 10% rating for continuous medication — if you need daily eye drops, you qualify for at least 10%.
Not connecting glaucoma to secondary conditions like depression or anxiety from progressive vision loss.
These apply to every C&P exam, whatever the condition.