Corneal opacities or scarring

Unhealed eye injury (diagnostic code 6009) covers orbital trauma and penetrating or non-penetrating eye injuries, including corneal opacities or scarring. VA rates this condition under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, which lets VA evaluate your condition two ways and use whichever produces the higher rating: visual impairment caused by the condition, or incapacitating episodes.

Under the incapacitating-episodes path, the rating depends on how many treatment visits you needed for the eye condition in the past 12 months. Seven or more visits produces a 60% rating. At least 5 but fewer than 7 visits produces 40%. At least 3 but fewer than 5 visits produces 20%. At least 1 but fewer than 3 visits produces 10%. A treatment visit counts only when you saw a provider specifically to treat the eye condition, not just for monitoring. Examples of qualifying treatment include systemic immunosuppressants or biologic agents, intravitreal or periocular injections, laser treatments, and surgical interventions. If your visual impairment results in a higher rating under the visual-impairment formulas in 38 CFR 4.75–4.78 and diagnostic codes 6061–6091, VA will use that path instead.