Chronic Conjunctivitis VA Rating

If you experience ongoing eye irritation, redness, or discharge, you may be dealing with chronic conjunctivitis. This condition, also known as pink eye, is painful and can impact your overall eye health. If you developed conjunctivitis during military service, you may be eligible for disability benefits. That’s why it’s essential to understand the conjunctivitis VA rating.

What is conjunctivitis? 

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an inflammation or infection that affects the membrane covering the white of your eye and the inside of your eyelid. As the membrane swells and your pupil dilates, it causes your eye to appear red. It can happen to one or both of your eyes at once. 

Symptoms of conjunctivitis include: 

• Redness in or around your eye or the whites of your eyes
• Swollen, sore eyes that are sensitive to bright light
• Itching, burning, or stinging eyes
• Watery eyes or discharge from your eye
• Eyelids that are crusty or stuck together when you wake up

There are three primary causes of conjunctivitis:

1. Viruses. The most common cause of short-term conjunctivitis is viruses like colds or the flu. Any version of the condition not caused by bacteria is called non-trachomatous conjunctivitis.
2. Bacteria. The second most common cause of conjunctivitis is bacteria, like that which causes staph infections, strep throat, and some STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. This type is called trachomatous conjunctivitis.
3. Allergies and irritants. Allergens like mold or pollen can cause conjunctivitis. Additionally, exposure to certain toxic substances can cause the infection.

In some cases, eye injuries can also cause conjunctivitis, but viruses and bacteria are the most common culprits, which is why pink eye spreads so easily.

Conjunctivitis is considered chronic when it lasts longer than four weeks. If it goes untreated for too long, it can cause permanent eye damage, scarring, and even blindness.

Conjunctivitis in veterans

About 3% of the population gets pink eye every year. There’s no clear research on what percentage of veterans experience the condition, but veterans may be prone to pink eye and other eye conditions during their military service due to exposure to viruses, bacteria, allergens, and other irritants, such as those found in burn pits. 

Chronic conjunctivitis isn’t listed as a presumptive condition for burn pit exposure, but it can still be connected to service with the right medical evidence, especially if your exposure to burn pits is documented and you’re able to provide a medical nexus linking your service to your condition.

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Conjunctivitis VA rating

The VA updated the rating criteria for conjunctivitis in 2018. Prior to 2018, active non-trachomatous conjunctivitis could only be rated at 10%, while active trachomatous conjunctivitis was assigned a rating of at least 30%. However, the VA now rates conjunctivitis in the Schedule of Ratings under the General Rating Formula for diseases of the eye. Conditions in this category are rated based on visual impairment or incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher rating. 

For the purposes of the rating, an “incapacitating episode” is a period of acute and severe symptoms that require seeing a healthcare professional for treatment.

Trachomatous conjunctivitis, also known as trachoma, is caused by a bacterial infection in the eyes. This type of conjunctivitis is rated using diagnostic code 6017 in accordance with the rating schedule outlined below, with a minimum rating of 30%.

The rating is as follows.

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring 7 or more treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months	60%	$1,434.02
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 5 but less than 7 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months	40%	$795.84
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 but less than 5 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months	20%	$356.66
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 1 but less than 3 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months	10%	$180.42

Inactive conjunctivitis VA rating

In rare cases, untreated conjunctivitis can lead to complications such as scarring and vision problems like uveitis or keratitis. In fact, trachomatous conjunctivitis is the leading preventable cause of blindness worldwide.

Veterans with inactive conjunctivitis that leads to another issue will be evaluated based on their residuals. Scarring will be evaluated under diagnostic code 7800, while other vision residuals will be evaluated under the Schedule of Ratings for diseases of the eye.

TDIU for conjunctivitis

Receiving total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for conjunctivitis can be difficult, as the condition will not usually affect a veteran’s ability to work for a significant amount of time. However, it’s not impossible, as extreme cases of conjunctivitis that lead to irreversible vision issues or other problems may make it difficult to hold down a job. 

A veteran can be awarded TDIU benefits if they can’t maintain “substantially gainful employment” due to their service-connected conditions. 

TDIU pays at the same level as a 100% disability rating, even when the veteran’s combined rating is below 100%.

Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:

• At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
• Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more

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