38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.79

Angle-closure glaucoma — VA Diagnostic Code 6012

Eye

Diagnostic code

6012

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38 CFR § 4.79 lists Diagnostic Code 6012 as “Angle-closure glaucoma.” The title does not end with a period. The rating cell on the title is empty. The next cell is the evaluate sentence, and the number on that cell is 10. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Angle-closure glaucoma.” with a period. The same evaluate sentence, and the same 10, are printed on DC 6013, open-angle glaucoma.

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

6012 Angle-closure glaucoma

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
10	Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required

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

The evaluate cell does not end with a period. It reads: “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required”

The 10 is the minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required. The cell also says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye.

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

DC 6013 is “Open-angle glaucoma,” also without a period on the title. Its next cell is the same evaluate sentence, and its number is also 10. The titles are different. DC 6029 is aphakia or dislocation of crystalline lens. Its minimum, unilateral or bilateral, is 30. That 30 is not printed on DC 6012.

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. Examinations of visual fields or muscle function will be conducted only when there is a medical indication of disease or injury that may be associated with visual field defect or impaired muscle function. Unless medically contraindicated, the fundus must be examined with the claimant's pupils dilated. 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. 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just.

The formula’s incapacitating-episode lines are 60, 40, 20, and 10. Those lines are a different 10 from the minimum on the DC 6012 cell. The DC 6012 cell does not print a 0 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. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided. The same section says the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses are to be avoided.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “glaucoma.” It does not assign DC 6012.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.79, Diagnostic Code 6012 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

Minimum 10 if continuous medication is required

That clause is in the same cell as the instruction to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. The number on the cell is 10. The cell does not end with a period.

The formula chooses the higher evaluation

The formula says to evaluate on visual impairment due to the particular condition or on incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation. The episode lines count treatment visits during the past 12 months.

Open-angle glaucoma uses the same sentence

DC 6013’s evaluate cell matches DC 6012’s evaluate cell, including the minimum of 10 if continuous medication is required. The title of DC 6013 is “Open-angle glaucoma.” Appendix B indexes each name with a period.

Evidence that speaks to each level

10 minimum

What the rater needs to see. Angle-closure glaucoma with continuous medication required, which is the minimum printed on the DC 6012 cell.

Where that usually lives. The medication list and the eye examination. The same cell also points to the General Rating Formula.

60, 40, 20, or 10 on the formula

What the rater needs to see. Documented incapacitating episodes at the visit counts in the formula, or visual impairment due to the condition, whichever results in a higher evaluation. Note (3) points visual impairment to 38 CFR 4.75-4.78 and diagnostic codes 6061-6091.

Where that usually lives. The treatment visits in the past 12 months and the visual-impairment examination. Section 4.75(b) names who conducts that examination.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
10 minimum	Angle-closure glaucoma with continuous medication required, which is the minimum printed on the DC 6012 cell.	The medication list and the eye examination. The same cell also points to the General Rating Formula.
60, 40, 20, or 10 on the formula	Documented incapacitating episodes at the visit counts in the formula, or visual impairment due to the condition, whichever results in a higher evaluation. Note (3) points visual impairment to 38 CFR 4.75-4.78 and diagnostic codes 6061-6091.	The treatment visits in the past 12 months and the visual-impairment examination. Section 4.75(b) names who conducts that examination.

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

The exam form

DC 6012 prints a minimum of 10 if continuous medication is required and points to the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. This page does not say the eye form replaces either text.

Related codes and how they interact

Open-angle glaucoma is the next code.

DC 6012 and DC 6013 each say to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, with a minimum evaluation of 10 if continuous medication is required. One title is angle-closure glaucoma. The other is open-angle glaucoma.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “glaucoma.” DC 6012 is a rating-schedule line.

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 angle-closure glaucoma under DC 6012?

Under 38 CFR § 4.79, angle-closure glaucoma is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. If continuous medication is required, the minimum evaluation is 10 percent. The formula uses visual impairment or incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does the title end with a period?

The § 4.79 title does not end with a period. Appendix B prints “Angle-closure glaucoma.” The period is on the index line.

FAQ

What does DC 6012 print for angle-closure glaucoma?

Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. The minimum evaluation if continuous medication is required is 10. The formula’s incapacitating-episode lines are 60, 40, 20, and 10. Education only.

Is open-angle glaucoma this code?

Open-angle glaucoma is DC 6013. It uses the same evaluate sentence and the same minimum of 10. The title of DC 6012 is “Angle-closure glaucoma.”

What is an incapacitating episode under the eye formula?

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 systemic immunosuppressants or biologic agents, intravitreal or periocular injections, laser treatments, or other surgical interventions.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6012, whether continuous medication was required, and whether the evaluation used visual impairment or incapacitating episodes.
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.

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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 6012 • 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.