Diagnostic Code 6080 · 38 CFR §4.76
Visual field defects involve the loss of portions of your peripheral or central vision due to damage anywhere along the visual pathway, from the eye itself to the brain. Common causes in veterans include glaucoma, retinal damage, optic nerve injuries, traumatic brain injury affecting the visual cortex, and stroke. Unlike visual acuity (which measures how sharply you see), visual field testing measures how wide your field of vision extends. The VA rates visual field defects based on the average remaining visual field measured in degrees, with specific ratings for different levels of concentric contraction and for hemianopsia.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Bilateral concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less. |
| 70% | Bilateral concentric contraction to 6-15 degrees. |
| 50% | Bilateral concentric contraction to 16-30 degrees. |
| 30% | Bilateral concentric contraction to 31-45 degrees, or homonymous hemianopsia. |
| 10% | Bilateral concentric contraction to 46-60 degrees, or loss of the temporal or inferior/superior half of visual field in one eye. |
Formal visual field testing (Goldmann or Humphrey automated perimetry) for each eye is essential. Documentation of the cause of the visual field loss, serial visual field tests showing progression if applicable, brain imaging if TBI or stroke is the underlying cause, and ophthalmology or neurology records explaining the visual pathway damage all strengthen your claim.
It is the loss of the same half of the visual field in both eyes, typically the right or left half. This pattern indicates damage to the brain's visual processing areas rather than the eyes themselves. It is commonly caused by TBI or stroke and rated at a minimum of 30% under DC 6080.
The VA uses the average remaining visual field, calculated by measuring the extent of vision in eight principal meridians from the center of fixation for each eye. The measurements are averaged to get a single number in degrees for each eye, which determines the rating.
The VA typically rates the overall visual impairment using whichever method provides the higher rating, not both combined. However, the underlying condition causing both can be separately rated under its disease-specific code if that yields a higher total.