Vision loss and eye conditions are common service-connected disabilities among veterans. Combat-related eye injuries from blast fragments or projectiles, long-term vision problems from environmental exposures, age-related vision decline exacerbated by military service, and conditions like cataracts developing earlier in veterans than in the general population all qualify for VA disability compensation. Many veterans don’t realize that vision problems qualify for disability benefits or that the veteran can receive substantial compensation for visual impairment. This article explains how veterans establish service connection for eye conditions, how the VA rates vision loss, and what compensation veterans with visual disabilities can expect.
Common Eye Conditions in Veterans
Veterans experience various eye conditions qualifying for disability benefits:
Combat-Related Eye Injuries: Veterans who served in combat roles frequently sustained eye injuries from blast fragmentation, projectiles, or trauma. These injuries can cause permanent vision loss, scarring of the cornea, or damage to internal eye structures. A veteran who lost an eye or suffered severe vision loss from combat injury typically qualifies for substantial disability compensation.
Refractive Errors and Presbyopia: While common refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism) alone don’t typically qualify for veteran disability benefits, severe refractive errors affecting a veteran’s vision significantly may qualify. Additionally, presbyopia (age-related difficulty focusing) combined with other eye problems may support a veteran’s claim.
Cataracts: Cataracts develop when the veteran’s eye lens becomes cloudy, progressively impairing the veteran’s vision. While cataracts are common with aging, veterans often develop cataracts earlier or more severely than civilians. Military service factors—including UV exposure, chemical exposure, or specific incidents—can accelerate cataract development in veterans. Many veterans qualify for disability benefits for service-connected cataracts.
Dry Eye Syndrome: Some veterans develop severe dry eye syndrome from military service factors including environmental exposure to dust, smoke, or chemicals. Severe dry eye causes pain and vision problems affecting the veteran’s ability to work.
Glaucoma: This condition involves elevated intraocular pressure damaging the veteran’s optic nerve. Service-connected glaucoma in veterans may result from specific eye injuries or from presumptive conditions related to military service.
Macular Degeneration: Age-related macular degeneration affects the veteran’s central vision. While primarily age-related, veterans with this condition may qualify for disability benefits, especially if the veteran’s military service accelerated the veteran’s condition.
Other Conditions: Veterans also receive disability benefits for conditions including diabetic retinopathy (in veterans with service-connected diabetes), retinal detachment, corneal scarring, and various other eye pathologies.
Service Connection for Veteran Eye Conditions
Establishing service connection for eye conditions in veterans requires showing that the veteran’s eye condition resulted from military service. This might be through:
Direct Incident: A veteran can establish service connection through a specific incident during military service that caused the veteran’s eye injury. For example, a veteran blinded by an IED blast during combat can establish direct service connection through documentation of the veteran’s injury incident.
Environmental Exposure: A veteran whose eye condition resulted from environmental exposure during military service can establish service connection through evidence of the veteran’s exposure and the veteran’s resulting condition. For example, a veteran exposed to burn pit smoke or chemical fumes who developed an eye condition can file a claim linking the veteran’s condition to the veteran’s exposure.
Presumptive Conditions: Some eye conditions are presumptively service-connected for certain veteran groups. For example, a veteran exposed to Agent Orange may qualify for presumptive conditions affecting the veteran’s eyes. A veteran with radiation exposure may qualify for presumptive eye conditions.
Service-Connected Conditions: A veteran may develop eye problems secondary to other service-connected veteran conditions. For example, a veteran with service-connected diabetes may develop diabetic retinopathy. The veteran can claim the veteran’s diabetic retinopathy as a secondary condition connected to the veteran’s service-connected diabetes.
How the VA Rates Vision Loss in Veterans
The VA rates vision in veterans using a specific rating schedule based on the veteran’s visual acuity and visual field. Visual acuity measures how clearly the veteran can see, while visual field measures the veteran’s peripheral vision.
The VA expresses visual acuity as a fraction, such as 20/20 (normal vision) or 20/200 (legally blind). The first number represents the distance at which the veteran is tested, while the second number represents the distance at which a person with normal vision could see the same detail. A veteran with 20/200 vision must be 20 feet away to see what someone with normal vision sees at 200 feet.
VA Disability Ratings for Veterans with Vision Loss
0% Veteran Vision Rating: A veteran with mild refractive error or minimal visual impairment receives a 0% rating. The veteran’s vision doesn’t substantially affect the veteran’s ability to perform occupational or social functions. Veterans at this level don’t receive monthly disability compensation but do qualify for VA healthcare.
10% Veteran Vision Rating: A veteran receiving 10% has mild vision impairment affecting the veteran’s vision but not substantially impairing the veteran’s work capacity. The veteran might have mild refractive error requiring correction or slightly reduced visual acuity in one eye.
20% Veteran Vision Rating: A veteran with a 20% rating has moderate vision impairment. The veteran might have visual acuity around 20/40 in the better eye or moderate visual field loss. This veteran rating indicates the veteran’s vision impairment is noticeable but the veteran can still perform most occupational duties with reasonable accommodation.
30% Veteran Vision Rating: A veteran receiving 30% has significant vision impairment. The veteran might have visual acuity around 20/60 or moderate to substantial visual field loss. This veteran rating indicates the veteran’s vision substantially affects the veteran’s occupational capacity and the veteran would have difficulty with tasks requiring detailed vision or extensive reading.
40% Veteran Vision Rating: A veteran at this level has severe vision impairment substantially limiting the veteran’s occupational capacity. The veteran might have visual acuity around 20/100 or substantial visual field loss. The veteran would have significant difficulty with most occupational duties requiring good vision.
50% Veteran Vision Rating: A veteran receiving 50% has very severe vision impairment. The veteran typically has visual acuity around 20/200 or better in the best eye with normal visual field, or legal blindness in one eye with normal vision in the other. This veteran rating reflects substantial occupational and social disability.
60% and Higher Veteran Vision Ratings: Veterans with profound vision loss or total blindness receive ratings of 60% or higher. A veteran with total bilateral blindness (no vision in either eye) typically receives a 100% rating. A veteran with light perception only or no light perception receives ratings reflecting the veteran’s profound disability.
Filing a Veteran Eye Disability Claim
To file a veteran eye disability claim, a veteran should:
Obtain a recent eye examination from an ophthalmologist or optometrist documenting the veteran’s visual acuity, visual fields, and eye pathology. The veteran should have this examination performed before filing the veteran’s claim—the VA will use this documentation in evaluating the veteran’s claim. Include the veteran’s military service history, particularly any incidents involving eye trauma or occupational exposure to substances affecting the veteran’s eyes. Provide any military medical records documenting eye injuries or eye problems during the veteran’s service. Include the veteran’s personal statement describing how the veteran’s eye condition developed, when the veteran first noticed the veteran’s vision problems, and how the veteran’s vision loss affects the veteran’s occupational and social functioning. If claiming secondary to another condition, provide evidence linking the veteran’s eye condition to the veteran’s service-connected condition.
The Veteran’s Eye Examination for Disability Claims
When filing a veteran eye disability claim, the VA will typically schedule a Compensation and Pension exam with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. During the veteran’s exam:
The examiner will perform visual acuity testing at various distances. The examiner will assess the veteran’s visual fields—the veteran’s peripheral vision. The examiner will perform a comprehensive eye examination looking for cataracts, glaucoma, retinal problems, or other abnormalities. The examiner will review the veteran’s military service history and any eye injuries or exposures during the veteran’s service.
The veteran should bring any prior eye examination records and eyeglasses or contact lenses to the veteran’s appointment. The veteran should be honest about the veteran’s current vision and any visual difficulties the veteran experiences in daily life.
Corrective Lenses and Veteran Vision Ratings
Some veterans wonder whether the VA considers corrected vision (with glasses or contacts) or uncorrected vision when determining the veteran’s rating. Generally, the VA considers the veteran’s best corrected vision—the veteran’s vision with the best possible optical correction.
This means a veteran should wear the veteran’s best-fitting glasses or contacts during the veteran’s eye exam. A veteran shouldn’t intentionally avoid wearing corrective lenses during testing, as this wouldn’t improve the veteran’s rating and might result in inaccurate assessment of the veteran’s true visual capacity.
Secondary Eye Conditions
Veterans should also consider filing claims for eye conditions secondary to other service-connected veteran disabilities. For example:
A veteran with service-connected diabetes may develop diabetic retinopathy. A veteran with service-connected cataracts may develop secondary vision loss. A veteran with service-connected glaucoma might develop secondary vision impairment.
These secondary conditions can receive separate ratings, allowing the veteran to receive additional compensation beyond the veteran’s primary disability rating.
Occupational Considerations for Veterans with Vision Loss
The VA recognizes that vision loss significantly affects occupational capacity. A veteran with substantial vision loss may not be able to perform their previous occupation. The VA considers this occupational impact when determining the veteran’s disability rating.
Veterans with severe vision loss may also qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services. The VA may provide career counseling, occupational training, and job placement assistance to help a veteran with vision loss transition to occupations suited to the veteran’s visual abilities.
Building a Strong Veteran Vision Loss Claim
To build the strongest possible veteran eye disability claim:
Get current eye examinations: Obtain comprehensive eye exams from qualified eye care professionals documenting the veteran’s visual acuity, visual fields, and eye pathology. Have exams performed before filing the veteran’s claim to support the veteran’s application.
Document military service factors: Provide detailed information about the veteran’s military occupational history, any eye injuries during the veteran’s service, and any environmental exposures the veteran believes affected the veteran’s eyes.
Obtain military medical records: Request military medical records documenting any eye injuries, eye problems, or medical treatment related to the veteran’s eyes during the veteran’s service.
Explain functional limitations: Describe specifically how the veteran’s vision loss affects the veteran’s ability to work, read, drive, or perform daily activities. Provide examples of occupational or social limitations the veteran experiences due to the veteran’s vision loss.
If claiming secondary conditions: Provide evidence linking the veteran’s eye condition to the veteran’s service-connected condition.
Conclusion
Vision loss and eye conditions significantly impact veterans’ quality of life and occupational capacity. Veterans with service-connected eye disabilities qualify for VA compensation, and many veterans receive substantial ratings reflecting their visual impairment. If a veteran experienced eye injury or developed an eye condition during military service, the veteran should pursue a disability claim. Gather medical documentation, explain how the veteran’s vision loss affects the veteran’s functioning, and if needed, work with a veteran representative to build a compelling case. Your service and vision loss deserve recognition and compensation.
