38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.79

Detachment of retina — VA Diagnostic Code 6008

Eye

Diagnostic code

6008

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38 CFR § 4.79 lists Diagnostic Code 6008 as “Detachment of retina.” The title ends with a period. The rating cell is empty. It is printed with the diseases that follow 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.

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 6008 prints the title “Detachment of retina.” and no percentage line.

The formula says: “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): 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): 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): 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 6009 is “Unhealed eye injury.” Its note says: “Note: This code includes orbital trauma, as well as penetrating or non-penetrating eye injury”. That note does not end with a period, and it is printed under DC 6009. It is not printed under DC 6008. DC 6007 is “Intraocular hemorrhage.” DC 6006 is “Retinopathy or maculopathy not otherwise specified” and does not end that title with a period. DC 6011 is retinal scars, atrophy, or irregularities. Its own line is 10 for localized scars, atrophy, or irregularities of the retina, unilateral or bilateral, that are centrally located and that result in an irregular, duplicated, enlarged, or diminished image. It then says to alternatively evaluate based on the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, if this would result in a higher evaluation. DC 6008 does not print that 10 percent line or that “alternatively” sentence.

DC 6001 is keratopathy. It also has no percentage of its own and is printed with the diseases that follow the formula. This page does not reprint diagnostic codes 6061-6091. Note (3) refers to them for visual impairment. 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 6008 does not print a 0 percent line of its own.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.79, Diagnostic Code 6008 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 ends with a period

The schedule prints “Detachment of retina.” Appendix B uses the same words, including the period. DC 6006’s title does not end with a period.

No percentage on the code itself

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

The unhealed-injury note is the next code

The note about orbital trauma and penetrating or non-penetrating eye injury is under DC 6009. It says “This code.” It is not a DC 6008 note.

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 exam form

The file is Eye Conditions. Section 4.75(b) requires a licensed optometrist or licensed ophthalmologist for the visual-impairment examination. DC 6008 does not print a percentage of its own.

Related codes and how they interact

Retinal scars have a 10 percent line this code does not print.

DC 6011 prints 10 for centrally located retinal scars, atrophy, or irregularities that result in an irregular, duplicated, enlarged, or diminished image, and it offers the eye formula as an alternative if that evaluation is higher. DC 6008 does not print that 10 percent sentence.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “retina” or “detachment.” It does not assign DC 6008.

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

What is the VA rating for detachment of the retina?

Under 38 CFR § 4.79, detachment of retina 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.

Which formula notes define 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 (2) gives examples of treatment, including intravitreal or periocular injections, laser treatments, or other surgical interventions. Note (3) points visual impairment to 38 CFR 4.75-4.78 and to diagnostic codes 6061-6091.

FAQ

How does VA rate detachment of the retina under DC 6008?

DC 6008 prints the title “Detachment of retina.” and no percentage of its own. The General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye says to evaluate on visual impairment or on incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation. The incapacitating-episode lines are 60, 40, 20, and 10. Education only.

Is the orbital-trauma note part of DC 6008?

The note is printed under DC 6009, unhealed eye injury. It says this code includes orbital trauma, as well as penetrating or non-penetrating eye injury. It does not end with a period. DC 6008’s row is the title and an empty rating cell.

Does DC 6008 print the 10 percent retinal-scar line?

No. That 10 percent line, and the sentence that alternatively uses the eye formula if it is higher, are printed under DC 6011.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6008 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 6008 • va.gov

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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.