Veterans living with keratoconus may wonder if they are eligible for a keratoconus VA rating. As with any eye condition, keratoconus can make daily life more complicated. With symptoms like blurry vision and light sensitivity, some veterans may find it difficult to complete basic tasks at work.
Understanding how keratoconus can affect your vision, what can cause it, and how it’s linked to other service-connected health issues can help you get the VA disability benefits you may be entitled to.
Key Takeaways
- Keratoconus is an eye condition that can cause blurry or double vision, and increased sensitivity to bright light.
- The VA will assign a keratoconus VA rating of 10%, 20%, 40%, or 60%.
- Keratoconus can sometimes develop as the result of other conditions like eczema, rhinitis, asthma, irritable bowl disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. If you have one of these conditions, you could be owed additional VA disability.
In this article about the keratoconus VA rating:
What is keratoconus?
Keratoconus is an eye condition in which the cornea becomes thinner, steeper, and more cone-shaped. The condition typically affects both eyes, but may only affect one.
Symptoms of keratoconus can include:
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Seeing halos, especially around bright light
- Increased sensitivity to bright light
- Sudden worsening or cloudy vision
The symptoms you experience may change as the disease worsens, as may the required treatment.
The keratoconus VA rating
The VA rates keratoconus using the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Potential ratings are 10%, 20%, 40%, and 60%. Ratings for eye conditions are based on visual impairment or incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher rating.
The VA defines an “incapacitating episode” as an eye condition severe enough to require a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment purposes.
Keratoconus and related conditions
Keratoconus doesn’t always appear on its own. Many veterans experience it alongside other health conditions that may be connected to their military service. Understanding how keratoconus relates to other medical issues can help you increase your monthly compensation, by opening the door to a secondary service connection.
Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Some studies suggest that atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin condition, increases your risk of developing keratoconus. This is possibly due to increased eye rubbing to relieve itching.
Allergic rhinitis
Also known as seasonal allergies or hay fever, allergic rhinitis presents like a common cold, but isn’t caused by a virus. Typically, this condition is triggered by exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens including dust, pollen, spores, mold, and pet hair.
The consistent inflammation from rhinitis and eye-rubbing to relieve itchy eyes can weaken the cornea, potentially leading to keratoconus.
Asthma
Asthma has been linked to keratoconus because both conditions involve inflammation and allergic responses. Similar to the conditions mentioned above, people with asthma often rub their eyes due to itching or irritation from allergies, which weakens the cornea over time. This constant pressure and inflammation may contribute to the development or worsening of keratoconus.
Irritable bowel disease
Research also shows a possible link between irritable bowel disease (IBD) and keratoconus. People who have IBD may have a higher risk of developing keratoconus. This connection suggests that inflammation, which is common in IBD, may also play a role in the development of the eye disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, a common condition among veterans that causes painful inflammation of joints, shares a strong connection to keratoconus due to the inflammation associated with both diseases.
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Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UI) is a chronic bowel disease that causes painful inflammation in the digestive tract. Due to increased stress levels and exposure to toxins, veterans are more likely to develop ulcerative colitis than the general population.
Like several other conditions we’ve discussed, the inflammation from UI is thought to be a factor in developing karatoconus.
If you have service connected any of the aforementioned conditions and developed keratoconus as a result, you may qualify for a secondary service connection for your eye condition.
A veteran can receive a secondary service-connected disability rating for any health condition that is medically related to a condition that’s service connected.
How Woods & Woods can help
Woods & Woods has been fighting for people with injuries and disabilities since 1985. Our team of accredited VA disability lawyers, case managers, legal analysts, and intake specialists know the ins and outs of the VA so you don’t have to do all the hard work. Call us today for your free and confidential case evaluation.
Our team is ready to help
Frequently asked questions
There is no direct evidence linking Agent Orange exposure and developing keratoconus.
Keratoconus is rated using the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Potential ratings are 10%, 20%, 40% and 60% disabling. Ratings for eye conditions are based on visual impairment or incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher rating.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
