38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.79

Keratoconus — VA Diagnostic Code 6035

Eye

Diagnostic code

6035

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38 CFR § 4.79 lists Diagnostic Code 6035 as “Keratoconus” in the table captioned “Diseases of the Eye.” The rating cell is empty. The title has no period. The table opens with the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. DC 6035 does not print the “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula” sentence that DC 6036 prints. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes the code as “Keratoconus.” with a 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 § 4.76 source note prints 73 FR 66549, Nov. 10, 2008.

The rating criteria at each level

6035 Keratoconus — the row this code prints

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Keratoconus

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	Keratoconus

General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye — incapacitating episodes, the block that opens this table

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 DC 6035 rating cell is empty. The title does not end with a period. Appendix B adds a period: “Keratoconus.”

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 6036, the next code, says “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum, if there is pain, photophobia, and glare sensitivity,” and the rating cell is 10. That sentence and that 10 are not printed on DC 6035.

38 CFR § 4.76(b)(2) says: provided that he or she customarily wears contact lenses, evaluate the visual acuity of any individual affected by a corneal disorder that results in severe irregular astigmatism that can be improved more by contact lenses than by eyeglass lenses, as corrected by contact lenses. The paragraph says “a corneal disorder.” It does not print the word “keratoconus” and it does not print 6035. Paragraph (b)(1) says to evaluate central visual acuity on the basis of corrected distance vision with central fixation, even if a central scotoma is present, and then states the exception when the lens required to correct distance vision in the poorer eye differs by more than three diopters.

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. 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. Paragraph (d) says the evaluation for visual impairment of one eye must not exceed 30 percent unless there is anatomical loss of the eye. 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. 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 6035 does not print a 0.

DC 6001 is keratopathy. It also prints a title and no percentage of its own. DC 6036 is status post corneal transplant. Its sentence “Minimum, if there is pain, photophobia, and glare sensitivity,” with a rating cell of 10, is printed on that code.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.79, Diagnostic Code 6035, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. Appendix B to Part 4, same version date, is the index line quoted above.

What the words mean in your records

An empty rating cell

The DC 6035 row is the word “Keratoconus” and a blank rating cell. The incapacitating-episode lines live in the General Rating Formula that opens the same table. Note (3) refers visual impairment to §§ 4.75-4.78 and diagnostic codes 6061-6091.

Corneal disorder, not the word keratoconus

Section 4.76(b)(2) uses “a corneal disorder” and “severe irregular astigmatism.” It does not name DC 6035. The schedule title at DC 6035 is keratoconus.

The next code prints a minimum

DC 6036 says “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum, if there is pain, photophobia, and glare sensitivity,” and the rating cell is 10. DC 6035 does not print that minimum.

Evidence that speaks to each level

60, 40, 20, or 10

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, when that evaluation is the one being compared with incapacitating episodes.

Where that usually lives. An examination by a licensed optometrist or a licensed ophthalmologist, which § 4.75(b) requires. Section 4.76(b)(2) is the contact-lens sentence for a corneal disorder with severe irregular astigmatism.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
60, 40, 20, or 10	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, when that evaluation is the one being compared with incapacitating episodes.	An examination by a licensed optometrist or a licensed ophthalmologist, which § 4.75(b) requires. Section 4.76(b)(2) is the contact-lens sentence for a corneal disorder with severe irregular astigmatism.

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

The exam form

DC 6035 prints a title and no percentage of its own. This page does not say the form assigns a percentage to the word keratoconus.

Related codes and how they interact

Keratopathy and corneal transplant are other rows.

DC 6001 is keratopathy. DC 6036 is status post corneal transplant, with the minimum the DC 6035 row does not print. Other eye codes are on the eye diagnostic-code index.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “keratoconus” or “cornea.” DC 6035 is a rating-schedule line, not a § 3.309 name.

Short answers

What is the VA rating for keratoconus?

Under 38 CFR § 4.79, Diagnostic Code 6035 prints the title and no percentage of its own. The Diseases of the Eye table opens with the general formula’s incapacitating-episode lines of 60, 40, 20, and 10, or visual impairment under the sections Note (3) names. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Why does the index have a period?

Appendix B says “Keratoconus.” The rating-table title does not end with a period.

FAQ

What does DC 6035 print?

The row is “Keratoconus,” with no period and an empty rating cell. It sits in the Diseases of the Eye table. That table opens with the General Rating Formula: visual impairment or incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation. The incapacitating-episode lines are 60, 40, 20, and 10. Education only.

Does DC 6035 print the 10 percent minimum from the next code?

No. DC 6036 says “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye. Minimum, if there is pain, photophobia, and glare sensitivity,” and the rating cell is 10. That minimum is not on the DC 6035 row.

Does § 4.76 name keratoconus?

Section 4.76(b)(2) says “a corneal disorder” that results in severe irregular astigmatism that can be improved more by contact lenses than by eyeglass lenses, when the person customarily wears contact lenses. It does not print “keratoconus” or 6035.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6035 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 6035 • 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.