Visual Acuity 20/50 Bilateral — VA Disability Rating (DC 6066)

Diagnostic Code 6066 · 38 CFR §4.79

What Is It?

Corrected visual acuity of 20/50 in both eyes is evaluated at 10 percent, and the code that produces it is DC 6066. That correction matters, because this page previously carried DC 6063. DC 6063 in the current 38 CFR 4.79 is "Anatomical loss of one eye," a code whose every row requires that one eye be gone; it cannot apply to a veteran with two intact eyes measuring 20/50. The bilateral 20/50 pairing sits inside DC 6066, "Visual acuity in one eye 10/200 (3/60) or better," which is organised as a series of sub-blocks — one for each level in the better-seeing eye — and in the sub-block for 20/50 the row "in the other eye 20/50" is 10 percent. Two practical points follow. Ten percent is the floor of the compensable acuity range and the same 10 percent covers 20/50 paired with 20/40, so a modest improvement in one eye does not change the figure. And the acuity table is not the only route: the disease causing the loss may itself be evaluable under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye on documented incapacitating episodes, and the schedule directs the higher of the two.

Rating Criteria

Evidence Needed

A current ophthalmology or optometry examination measuring best-corrected distance visual acuity in each eye separately. 38 CFR 4.76(b)(1) directs that central visual acuity be evaluated on corrected distance vision with central fixation, even where a central scotoma is present — so the number that counts is the corrected one, and an uncorrected reading will not be used unless the >3-diopter provision in that paragraph applies. Include the diagnosis of the underlying eye disease and its nexus evidence, because the acuity code is only the measuring instrument: service connection is established for the condition causing the loss. If a visual field defect coexists, get Goldmann kinetic or automated perimetry as 38 CFR 4.77(a) requires, since field loss is rated separately under DC 6080 and may produce more.

C&P Exam Tips

Ask that each eye be measured and recorded separately, with best correction, and that the report state the Snellen values rather than a summary description. If your correction cannot be tolerated or does not improve the acuity because of the underlying disease, have the examiner explain why in the report. Raise any field loss, diplopia or photophobia separately — DC 6080 covers field defects, DC 6090 covers diplopia, and each has its own criteria. Report functional difficulty for the record, but understand that the acuity table reads numbers: this row is fixed by the measurement, not by the impact.

How to File

File for the underlying eye condition and let the acuity table do the arithmetic — VA selects the applicable visual-acuity code from the examination results, so you do not need to name DC 6066 yourself. What is worth doing is checking the decision: if it cites a code from the pre-2008 acuity block, or cites DC 6063 or 6065 for a bilateral acuity pairing with no anatomical loss and no 5/200 eye, the code is wrong even where the percentage happens to be right. Where a field defect also exists, claim it: 38 CFR 4.79 DC 6080 provides alternatives that can be evaluated as an acuity equivalent, and the higher result applies.

Common Mistakes

Assuming a bilateral acuity pairing belongs under DC 6063 or DC 6065. Both of those codes have an entry condition — DC 6063 requires anatomical loss of one eye and DC 6065 requires vision of 5/200 in one eye — and a veteran with 20/50 in both eyes meets neither, so the pairing sits in DC 6066. Submitting uncorrected acuity, which 38 CFR 4.76(b)(1) does not use for this purpose. Overlooking visual field loss, which is rated under DC 6080 and can exceed the acuity result. And treating a modest acuity percentage as the end of the claim when the underlying disease may itself be evaluable under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye on incapacitating episodes — 60 percent at seven or more treatment visits in 12 months, 40 at five or six, 20 at three or four, 10 at one or two — whichever is higher.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the VA rating for 20/50 vision in both eyes?

Ten percent, under DC 6066. In the sub-block for vision of 20/50 in one eye, the row for 20/50 in the other eye is 10 percent. The same 10 percent applies to 20/50 paired with 20/40.

Why is this DC 6066 and not DC 6063?

Because DC 6063 is "Anatomical loss of one eye." Every row under it requires that one eye has been lost. With two intact eyes at 20/50 the applicable code is DC 6066, "Visual acuity in one eye 10/200 (3/60) or better."

Is the rating based on corrected or uncorrected vision?

Corrected. 38 CFR 4.76(b)(1) directs that central visual acuity be evaluated on corrected distance vision with central fixation, even where a central scotoma is present. A limited exception in that paragraph allows the poorer eye to be evaluated uncorrected where the difference in corrective lenses exceeds three diopters and that produces a better combined evaluation.

Can I get more than 10 percent for this level of vision loss?

Not from the acuity table for this pairing. Higher evaluations come from three other places: a visual field defect rated under DC 6080; diplopia under DC 6090; or the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, which pays 60, 40, 20 or 10 percent on documented incapacitating episodes requiring treatment visits, and applies where it produces more than the visual-impairment result.

What if only one eye is service-connected?

38 CFR 4.75(c) provides that, subject to 38 CFR 3.383(a), where only one eye is service-connected the other eye is considered to be 20/40. And 38 CFR 4.75(d) caps visual impairment of one eye at 30 percent unless there is anatomical loss of that eye.

What if my vision is different in each eye?

DC 6066 has a sub-block for each level in the better eye — 10/200, 15/200, 20/200, 20/100, 20/70, 20/50 and 20/40 — and a row within it for each level in the other eye. Where one eye is anatomically absent, has no more than light perception, or sees 5/200, the applicable code is DC 6063, 6064 or 6065 instead.