Each year, thousands of veterans are diagnosed with cataracts that blur vision, cause glare at night, and make everyday tasks harder. The VA provides a disability rating for cataracts to veterans whose condition was caused or aggravated by their service.
This article explains what cataracts are, the cataract VA rating, and the most common ways cataracts are linked to military service.
Key Takeaways
- VA ratings for cataracts depend on whether you have or have not yet had surgery for the condition.
- Cataracts will typically be rated using the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye at 10%, 20%, 40% or 60%.
- Veterans who have had surgery without a replacement lens being inserted are rated using DC 6029 for aphakia at 30% or higher.
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In this article about the VA rating for cataracts:
What are cataracts?
Cataracts cloud the lens of the eye. Your eye lens helps focus light so you can see clearly. When the lens becomes cloudy, your vision starts to look cloudy, as well. Seeing with cataracts can be compared to looking through a cloudy or frosted window.
Cataracts often develop slowly, and symptoms increase over time. Those symptoms can include:
- Blurred or clouded vision
- Poor night vision
- Light sensitivity
- Seeing halos around lights
- Double vision
Cataracts in veterans
The VA treats many veterans with eye conditions each year. More than a million veterans have vision impairments ranging from cataracts and glaucoma to diabetic retinopathy, and more than 100,000 veterans are legally blind.
Cataracts are one of the most common eye conditions, with over 700,000 veteran patients seen in 2020 and 800,000 in 2021.
It’s also one of the leading causes of vision loss, even though they can often be removed with a quick and straightforward surgery.
While aging is the biggest risk factor for cataracts, exposure to toxins in the air as well as over-exposure to UV light, pesticides, and smoke are also potential risk factors.
VA rating for cataracts
The VA rates cataracts under diagnostic code 6027. This DC is split into two sections: pre- and postoperative.
Preoperative cataracts are rated using the General Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Veterans who haven’t had corrective surgery can get a 10%, 20%, 40% or 60% VA rating for cataracts depending on the severity of their symptoms.
The General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye rates using the criteria in the chart below:
The term “incapacitating episode” here refers to the eye condition being serious enough to require a visit to a clinic specifically for treatment, such as injections, laser treatment, or surgery.
Veterans with postoperative cataracts are also rated using the general formula above if you have a replacement lens.
Veterans with postoperative cataracts who do not have a replacement lens are rated under diagnostic code 6029 for aphakia or dislocation of the crystalline lens.
Under DC 6029, the minimum rating is 30%, and the criteria is as follows:
Cataracts and other related conditions
Some health problems and treatments can raise the chance of cataracts or make vision issues worse.
Veterans who are already service-connected for any of the conditions below may be able to receive disability benefits for cataracts through a secondary service connection, if they can show the two are related.
- Cancer and radiation. Veterans have a slightly higher risk of developing cancer than the general population, due to exposure to chemicals, pollutants, and radiation in service. Radiation during service can lead to cataracts on their own, or radiation therapy for cancer can lead to radiation cataracts.
- Diabetes. Diabetes has long been associated with vision problems. High blood sugar levels over time can lead to structural changes in the lens of the eye, accelerating the development of cataracts.
- Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can cause chronic pain and tenderness throughout the body, stiffness in joints, sensitivity to light and sound, stomach issues, and more. Research has linked people diagnosed with fibromyalgia with a 2.5 times higher risk of cataracts.
- Hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is common among veterans with combat exposure and service-related injuries. Research has shown that people with cataracts often also have hypertension.
- Kidney disease. Research has found higher rates of cataracts in people with kidney disease, possibly due to changes in body chemistry that occur when the kidneys aren’t functioning properly.
This list is not comprehensive. Regardless of the medical condition you think may be connected to your cataracts, you will need a nexus letter from a doctor establishing this link. We explain more about service connection below.
Service connecting cataracts
Veterans can get VA disability for cataracts only if the condition is related to their military service.
One example of how a veteran might service connect cataracts would be through an eye injury during combat or training. This is called traumatic cataracts.
Veterans may also have a related condition like fibromyalgia that’s known to increase the chance of developing cataracts, as mentioned above. In such cases, veterans could be owed a secondary service connection for cataracts.
Evidence including a nexus letter and military and medical records can help support service connection.
Woods & Woods are a great firm. My process was a long one but they were professional every step of the way. I would recommend any veteran, who is looking for help in receiving benefits, call them asap. You will not be disappointed.
J.S. a Navy veteran from North Carolina
From a Google review for Woods & Woods
TDIU for vision issues
In some cases, a veteran may be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for severe eye conditions and vision loss. TDIU is also known as individual unemployability or simply IU. Veterans are eligible for these benefits if they can’t hold down “substantially gainful” employment due to their service-connected conditions.
Veterans who receive TDIU benefits are compensated at the same level as those with a 100% disability rating, even though their 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
How Woods & Woods can help
Our TDIU lawyers have helped thousands of veterans nationwide who can no longer work because of their service-connected conditions. Call us today for your free, confidential TDIU case evaluation. You won’t pay us unless we win your claim.
Our team is ready to help
Frequently asked questions
Cataracts are not on the list of Agent Orange presumptive conditions. However, diabetes is presumptive for veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and diabetes may accelerate the development of cataracts. In those cases, a veteran might claim cataracts as secondary to their Agent Orange diabetes.
The VA rates pre-operative cataracts using the General Formula for Diseases of the Eye. This general formula is also used for post-operative cataracts with a replacement lens. Under this formula, veterans can get a 10% – 60% VA rating for cataracts depending on the severity of symptoms. Post-operative cataracts without a replacement lens use diagnostic code 6029 and will receive a minimum rating of at least 30%.
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.
