38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.79

Chronic conjunctivitis (nontrachomatous) — VA Diagnostic Code 6018

Eye

Diagnostic code

6018

Start free worksheet Get the Founding Pass — $9.99/month

38 CFR § 4.79 lists Diagnostic Code 6018 as “Chronic conjunctivitis (nontrachomatous).” Active disease is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, with a minimum rating of 10. Inactive disease is evaluated based on residuals, such as visual impairment and disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800). Trachomatous conjunctivitis is DC 6017, and its active minimum is 30.

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 versioner lists a substantive amendment date of 2022-10-20. The § 4.75 source note prints 73 FR 66549, Nov. 10, 2008.

The rating criteria at each level

Chronic conjunctivitis (nontrachomatous) — DC 6018

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Active: Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, minimum rating

Rating %: Residuals

Criteria (verbatim). Inactive: Evaluate based on residuals, such as visual impairment and disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800)

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
10	Active: Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, minimum rating
Residuals	Inactive: Evaluate based on residuals, such as visual impairment and disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800)

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 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(a) says the evaluation of visual impairment is based on impairment of visual acuity (excluding developmental errors of refraction), visual field, and muscle function. Paragraph (b) says the examination must be conducted by a licensed optometrist or by a licensed ophthalmologist, and 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. Combine the evaluation for visual impairment of one eye with evaluations for other disabilities of the same eye that are not based on visual impairment (for example, disfigurement under diagnostic code 7800).

This page does not reprint the visual-acuity, visual-field, or muscle-function tables in §§ 4.76 through 4.78 and diagnostic codes 6061-6091. Note (3) is the referral.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.79, Diagnostic Code 6018, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. The source note prints 73 FR 66550, Nov. 10, 2008, as amended at 83 FR 15321, Apr. 10, 2018. The versioner lists a later substantive amendment date of 2022-10-20.

What the words mean in your records

Nontrachomatous

That word is in the DC 6018 title. DC 6017 is trachomatous conjunctivitis. Active trachomatous conjunctivitis is evaluated under the same General Rating Formula, with a minimum rating of 30. Inactive trachomatous conjunctivitis is evaluated on residuals, such as visual impairment and disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800).

Minimum rating 10

The active line is not a flat 10 percent. It says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula, and the minimum rating is 10. The formula’s incapacitating-episode lines are 60, 40, 20, and 10. The same formula also allows evaluation on visual impairment if that results in a higher evaluation.

Incapacitating episode

Note (1) defines it as an eye condition severe enough to require a clinic visit to a provider specifically for treatment purposes. Note (2) gives examples of treatment. It says the examples may include but are not limited to the treatments it names.

When two evaluations are close

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.

Evidence that speaks to each level

Active

What the rater needs to see. Active chronic conjunctivitis (nontrachomatous), then either the incapacitating-episode count or the visual-impairment evaluation, whichever the formula says is higher, and at least the 10 percent minimum.

Where that usually lives. The eye examination and the treatment-visit record for the past 12 months.

Inactive

What the rater needs to see. Residuals, such as visual impairment and disfigurement under diagnostic code 7800. The inactive line does not print a percentage of its own.

Where that usually lives. The eye examination and, when disfigurement is the residual, the record used for DC 7800.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
Active	Active chronic conjunctivitis (nontrachomatous), then either the incapacitating-episode count or the visual-impairment evaluation, whichever the formula says is higher, and at least the 10 percent minimum.	The eye examination and the treatment-visit record for the past 12 months.
Inactive	Residuals, such as visual impairment and disfigurement under diagnostic code 7800. The inactive line does not print a percentage of its own.	The eye examination and, when disfigurement is the residual, the record used for DC 7800.

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) says the examination must be conducted by a licensed optometrist or a licensed ophthalmologist. The form does not replace the DC 6018 lines or the General Rating Formula.

Related codes and how they interact

Trachoma, disfigurement, and pterygium

DC 6017 is the trachomatous code, with an active minimum of 30. DC 7800 is the disfigurement code named in the inactive line.

DC 6034, pterygium, says to evaluate under the General Rating Formula, disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800), conjunctivitis (diagnostic code 6018), and so on, depending on the particular findings, and combine in accordance with § 4.25.

Other eye codes are on the eye diagnostic-code index.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

38 CFR § 3.316(a)(1) names chronic conjunctivitis after full-body exposure to nitrogen or sulfur mustard, together with keratitis, corneal opacities, scar formation, or the cancers that paragraph lists: nasopharyngeal; laryngeal; lung (except mesothelioma); or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. The paragraph does not use the word “nontrachomatous.” Paragraph (a)(2) names a chronic form of laryngitis, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It does not name conjunctivitis. Paragraph (a)(3) names acute nonlymphocytic leukemia after full-body exposure to nitrogen mustard. Paragraph (b) bars service connection under this section for willful misconduct, or when affirmative evidence establishes a nonservice-related supervening condition or event as the cause.

38 CFR § 3.309(e) does not name chronic conjunctivitis. 38 CFR § 3.309(f) does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320 and § 3.320a do not name it. 38 U.S.C. § 1120(b) does not name it.

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 DC 6018?

Under 38 CFR § 4.79, active chronic conjunctivitis (nontrachomatous) is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, minimum 10 percent. Inactive disease is evaluated on residuals, such as visual impairment and DC 7800 disfigurement. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Which presumption names chronic conjunctivitis?

38 CFR § 3.316(a)(1) names chronic conjunctivitis after full-body nitrogen or sulfur mustard exposure. The herbicide, Camp Lejeune, § 3.320, and § 3.320a lists do not name it.

FAQ

How does VA rate chronic conjunctivitis under DC 6018?

Active nontrachomatous chronic conjunctivitis is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye, with a minimum rating of 10. The formula uses either visual impairment or incapacitating episodes, whichever is higher. Inactive disease is evaluated on residuals, such as visual impairment and disfigurement under DC 7800. Education only.

How is DC 6018 different from DC 6017?

DC 6017 is trachomatous conjunctivitis. Its active minimum is 30. DC 6018 is chronic conjunctivitis (nontrachomatous). Its active minimum is 10. Both inactive lines evaluate residuals, such as visual impairment and disfigurement under DC 7800.

Is chronic conjunctivitis a mustard-gas condition?

Section 3.316(a)(1) names chronic conjunctivitis after full-body exposure to nitrogen or sulfur mustard. Paragraph (a)(3) is acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, not conjunctivitis. Sections 3.309(e), 3.309(f), 3.320, and 3.320a do not name chronic conjunctivitis.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6018, whether it called the disease active or inactive, and whether it used DC 6017 instead.
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. C&P prep (Founding Pass) is a separate worksheet. 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 6018 • 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.