38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.79

Choroidopathy, including uveitis, iritis, cyclitis, or choroiditis — VA Diagnostic Code 6000

Eye

Diagnostic code

6000

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38 CFR § 4.79 lists Diagnostic Code 6000 as “Choroidopathy, including uveitis, iritis, cyclitis, or choroiditis.” The title ends with a period. The rating cell is empty. It is the first disease title after the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. That formula says to evaluate on either visual impairment due to the particular condition or on incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation. Appendix B to Part 4 uses the same words, including the period. Appendix B also indexes 6003 as “Iritis.”, 6004 as “Cyclitis.”, and 6005 as “Choroiditis.” The 2026-10-01 text of § 4.79 does not contain 6003, 6004, or 6005.

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.79 source note prints 73 FR 66550, Nov. 10, 2008, as amended at 83 FR 15321, Apr. 10, 2018. The § 4.75 source note prints 73 FR 66549, Nov. 10, 2008.

The rating criteria at each level

General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye — incapacitating episodes

Rating %: 60

Criteria (verbatim). With documented incapacitating episodes requiring 7 or more treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months

Rating %: 40

Criteria (verbatim). With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 5 but less than 7 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months

Rating %: 20

Criteria (verbatim). With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 but less than 5 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 1 but less than 3 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
60	With documented incapacitating episodes requiring 7 or more treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months
40	With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 5 but less than 7 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months
20	With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 but less than 5 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months
10	With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 1 but less than 3 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months

DC 6000 prints the title “Choroidopathy, including uveitis, iritis, cyclitis, or choroiditis.” and no percentage line.

The formula’s opening sentence does not end with a period. It reads: “Evaluate on the basis of either visual impairment due to the particular condition or on incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation”

Note (1) does not end with a period. It reads: For the purposes of evaluation under 38 CFR 4.79, an incapacitating episode is an eye condition severe enough to require a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment purposes

Note (2) does not end with a period. It reads: Examples of treatment may include but are not limited to: Systemic immunosuppressants or biologic agents; intravitreal or periocular injections; laser treatments; or other surgical interventions

Note (3) does not end with a period. It reads: For the purposes of evaluating visual impairment due to the particular condition, refer to 38 CFR 4.75-4.78 and to § 4.79, diagnostic codes 6061-6091

38 CFR § 4.75(b) requires examination by a licensed optometrist or a licensed ophthalmologist for visual impairment, and it says the examiner must identify the disease, injury, or other pathologic process responsible for any visual impairment found. Paragraph (c) says that, subject to 38 CFR 3.383(a), if visual impairment of only one eye is service-connected, the visual acuity of the other eye will be considered to be 20/40 for purposes of evaluating the service-connected visual impairment. Paragraph (d) says the evaluation for visual impairment of one eye must not exceed 30 percent unless there is anatomical loss of the eye. Paragraph (f) says that when evaluating visual impairment, refer to 38 CFR 3.350 to determine whether the claimant may be entitled to special monthly compensation. Paragraph (f) does not state a payment amount.

DC 6001 is “Keratopathy.” It also ends with a period and has an empty rating cell. DC 6006 is “Retinopathy or maculopathy not otherwise specified” and does not end that title with a period. Appendix B adds a period to the 6006 words. DC 6007 is “Intraocular hemorrhage.” DC 6008 is “Detachment of retina.” DC 6027 is cataract, and its preoperative cell points to this same formula. DC 6011 prints its own 10 percent line for localized retinal scars, atrophy, or irregularities. DC 6000 does not print that 10 percent line.

38 CFR § 4.31 says that in every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. The incapacitating-episode lines are 60, 40, 20, and 10. DC 6000 does not print a 0 percent line of its own. This page does not reprint diagnostic codes 6061-6091. Note (3) refers to them for visual impairment.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “choroid,” “uveitis,” “iritis,” or “cyclitis.” It does not assign DC 6000.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.79, Diagnostic Code 6000 and the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

The title includes four names

The schedule prints “Choroidopathy, including uveitis, iritis, cyclitis, or choroiditis.” The words “including” and “or” are in that title. Appendix B uses the same sentence.

No percentage on the code itself

The rating cell is empty. The incapacitating-episode lines above the disease titles are 60, 40, 20, and 10. Visual impairment is the other branch of the formula.

6003, 6004, and 6005 are in the index

Appendix B still lists Iritis, Cyclitis, and Choroiditis at 6003, 6004, and 6005. The 2026-10-01 text of § 4.79 does not contain those three numbers. Those names appear inside the DC 6000 title.

Evidence that speaks to each level

Incapacitating episodes

What the rater needs to see. Documented incapacitating episodes during the past 12 months, counted as 7 or more, at least 5 but less than 7, at least 3 but less than 5, or at least 1 but less than 3 treatment visits.

Where that usually lives. The treatment-visit record. Note (1) requires a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment purposes.

Visual impairment

What the rater needs to see. The visual-acuity, visual-field, or muscle-function evaluation Note (3) refers to, if that evaluation is higher than the incapacitating-episode evaluation.

Where that usually lives. An examination by a licensed optometrist or a licensed ophthalmologist, which § 4.75(b) requires for visual impairment.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
Incapacitating episodes	Documented incapacitating episodes during the past 12 months, counted as 7 or more, at least 5 but less than 7, at least 3 but less than 5, or at least 1 but less than 3 treatment visits.	The treatment-visit record. Note (1) requires a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment purposes.
Visual impairment	The visual-acuity, visual-field, or muscle-function evaluation Note (3) refers to, if that evaluation is higher than the incapacitating-episode evaluation.	An examination by a licensed optometrist or a licensed ophthalmologist, which § 4.75(b) requires for visual impairment.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Eye Conditions” under Ophthalmological. The file is Eye Conditions.

The exam form

DC 6000 points to the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. This page does not say the eye form replaces that formula.

Related codes and how they interact

Keratopathy is the next disease title.

DC 6001 is “Keratopathy.” and also has an empty rating cell. DC 6006 follows later and does not end its § 4.79 title with a period. Cataract, DC 6027, names the same formula in its preoperative cell.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not contain “choroid,” “uveitis,” “iritis,” or “cyclitis.” This page does not add DC 6000 to a presumptive row.

A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.

Short answers

How does VA rate choroidopathy under DC 6000?

Under 38 CFR § 4.79, choroidopathy, including uveitis, iritis, cyclitis, or choroiditis, does not print its own percentage. Evaluation uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye: visual impairment or incapacitating episodes, whichever is higher. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Where do iritis, cyclitis, and choroiditis appear?

They appear in the DC 6000 title, after the word “including.” The 2026-10-01 text of § 4.79 does not contain diagnostic codes 6003, 6004, or 6005. Appendix B still lists those three codes.

FAQ

Does DC 6000 print its own percentage?

No. The title is “Choroidopathy, including uveitis, iritis, cyclitis, or choroiditis.” The rating cell is empty. Evaluation uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. The incapacitating-episode lines are 60, 40, 20, and 10. Education only.

Is cyclitis still a separate code in § 4.79?

The 2026-10-01 text of § 4.79 does not contain 6004. Cyclitis is one of the names inside the DC 6000 title. Appendix B still indexes “Cyclitis.” at 6004, and it also indexes iritis at 6003 and choroiditis at 6005.

What counts as an incapacitating episode?

Note (1) says an incapacitating episode is an eye condition severe enough to require a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment purposes. Note (1) does not end with a period.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6000 and whether it used incapacitating episodes or visual impairment.
The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
Other eye codes are on the eye diagnostic-code index.

Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.

Other codes in this body system

Nearby catalog entries in Eye, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Eye codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6000 • va.gov

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.