§ 4.79 Schedule of ratings—eye.

Open-angle glaucoma

A type of glaucoma where fluid drains too slowly, raising eye pressure.

What the rating means

Open-angle glaucoma is rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, which lets VA evaluate your condition two ways: by visual impairment caused by the glaucoma, or by incapacitating episodes over the past 12 months. VA uses whichever approach produces the higher rating.

Under the incapacitating-episode approach, a 10% rating applies when you have at least 1 but fewer than 3 treatment visits in the past 12 months. A 20% rating requires at least 3 but fewer than 5 visits. A 40% rating requires at least 5 but fewer than 7 visits. A 60% rating requires 7 or more visits. An incapacitating episode means your condition was severe enough to require a clinic visit specifically for treatment, such as intravitreal or periocular injections, laser treatments, surgical interventions, or systemic immunosuppressants or biologic agents.

Under the visual-impairment approach, VA measures how your eyesight is affected and rates it according to separate formulas found at 38 CFR 4.75–4.78 and diagnostic codes 6061–6091 in § 4.79. If you require continuous medication to manage your glaucoma, the minimum evaluation is 10%.

Evidence that helps

To support a rating based on incapacitating episodes, your medical records should document the number of clinic visits during the past 12 months at which you received active treatment for your glaucoma. Records showing injections, laser procedures, surgeries, or prescriptions for systemic immunosuppressants or biologic agents help establish both that visits occurred and that they were for treatment rather than routine monitoring.

To support a rating based on visual impairment, eye examination records showing your best-corrected visual acuity, visual field measurements, and any documented loss of light sensitivity are directly relevant. Ophthalmology or optometry notes that track changes in your vision over time are especially useful.

If you require ongoing medication, pharmacy records or prescription documentation can help show that continuous treatment is necessary, which supports at least a 10% evaluation. Statements from you or people who know you describing how your vision or treatment schedule affects your ability to work and manage daily tasks can also provide context for the medical findings already in your record.

Secondary conditions

Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.

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What the rating means

Evidence that helps

Secondary conditions

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