38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.79
Other eye 20/40 (6/12) — VA Diagnostic Code 6079
Eye
Diagnostic code
6079
Appendix B to Part 4, version date 2026-10-01, prints Diagnostic Code 6079 three times. Each line is “Other eye 20/40 (6/12).” The first-eye headings are “Vision in 1 eye 20/100 (6/30):”, “Vision in 1 eye 20/70 (6/21):”, and “Vision in 1 eye 20/50 (6/15):”. The rating table in 38 CFR § 4.79 for that same version date does not list Diagnostic Code 6079. Those three pairs are printed on DC 6066, and each of those three cells is 10.
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
6079 in 38 CFR § 4.79 — the 2026-10-01 rating table
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). This section does not list Diagnostic Code 6079.
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | This section does not list Diagnostic Code 6079. |
Appendix B lines that still print 6079 — version date 2026-10-01
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Vision in 1 eye 20/100 (6/30): 6079 Other eye 20/40 (6/12).
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Vision in 1 eye 20/70 (6/21): 6079 Other eye 20/40 (6/12).
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Vision in 1 eye 20/50 (6/15): 6079 Other eye 20/40 (6/12).
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | Vision in 1 eye 20/100 (6/30): 6079 Other eye 20/40 (6/12). |
| — | Vision in 1 eye 20/70 (6/21): 6079 Other eye 20/40 (6/12). |
| — | Vision in 1 eye 20/50 (6/15): 6079 Other eye 20/40 (6/12). |
DC 6066 rows that use those acuity pairs. These are DC 6066 lines, not a DC 6079 percentage.
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). Vision in one eye 20/100 (6/30): In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). Vision in one eye 20/70 (6/21): In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). Vision in one eye 20/50 (6/15): In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 10 | Vision in one eye 20/100 (6/30): In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) |
| 10 | Vision in one eye 20/70 (6/21): In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) |
| 10 | Vision in one eye 20/50 (6/15): In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) |
Appendix B says “Vision in 1 eye” and “Other eye.” Section 4.79 says “Vision in one eye” and “In the other eye.” Each Appendix B 6079 line ends with a period. The DC 6066 cells do not.
Appendix B prints 6079 only under those three first-eye headings. It does not print 6079 under vision in 1 eye of 10/200, 15/200, or 20/200. Those 20/40 lines are 6077. It does not print a “Vision in 1 eye 20/40 (6/12)” heading at all.
On DC 6066, vision in one eye 20/40 (6/12) and in the other eye 20/40 (6/12) is 0. That 0 is not an Appendix B 6079 line. The three 10 percent cells quoted above do not carry superscript 1.
Footnote 1 of the central-acuity table reads: Review for entitlement to special monthly compensation under 38 CFR 3.350. It is not printed on these three DC 6066 cells.
38 CFR § 4.75(c) says that if visual impairment of only one eye is service-connected, the visual acuity of the other eye will be considered to be 20/40, subject to 38 CFR 3.383(a). Paragraph (d) says the evaluation for visual impairment of one eye must not exceed 30 percent unless there is anatomical loss of the eye. The three DC 6066 cells quoted here are each 10. 38 CFR § 4.76(b)(4) uses the listed visual acuity which permits the higher evaluation when a reported acuity falls between two sequentially listed acuities.
DC 6066 in the rating table is “Visual acuity in one eye 10/200 (3/60) or better:”. DC 6077 is the Appendix B number “Other eye 20/40 (6/12).” under vision in 1 eye of 10/200, 15/200, and 20/200. On DC 6066 those pairs are 30, 20, and 20. The both-eyes 20/40 cell on DC 6066 is 0, and Appendix B does not number that cell 6079.
Searching the 2026-10-01 text of § 4.79 for 6079 returns no hits. 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “6079” or “20/40.” It does not assign this index line.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.79, Diagnostic Code 6066, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. Appendix B to Part 4, same version date, is the index quoted above.
What the words mean in your records
One other-eye line, three first eyes
Each Appendix B 6079 line uses the same other-eye words, “Other eye 20/40 (6/12).” The first eye changes: 20/100 (6/30), 20/70 (6/21), and 20/50 (6/15). On DC 6066 each of those pairs is 10.
6077 is the worse first-eye 20/40 lines
Appendix B uses 6077, not 6079, when the first eye is 10/200, 15/200, or 20/200 and the other eye is 20/40. Those DC 6066 cells are 30, 20, and 20.
Both eyes at 20/40 is 0
“Vision in one eye 20/40 (6/12):” and “In the other eye 20/40 (6/12)” is 0 on DC 6066. Appendix B does not place 6079 on that row.
Evidence that speaks to each level
The index line
What the rater needs to see. One of the three Appendix B pairs: 20/100, 20/70, or 20/50 in one eye, and 20/40 (6/12) in the other. Each of those DC 6066 cells is 10.
Where that usually lives. Corrected distance vision in each eye.
A different 20/40 pair
What the rater needs to see. If the first eye is 10/200, 15/200, or 20/200, the 20/40 other-eye line is an Appendix B 6077 line on the DC 6066 grid, at 30, 20, or 20. If both eyes are 20/40, the DC 6066 cell is 0.
Where that usually lives. The same central-acuity examination, read on the matching row.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Eye Conditions” under Ophthalmological. The file is Eye Conditions.
The exam form
DC 6079 is an index number. The 10 percent figures on this page are DC 6066 cells. This page does not say the form assigns a percentage to 6079.
Related codes and how they interact
DC 6066 also prints a zero for 20/40 in both eyes.
That 0 is on the rating table. Appendix B stops the 6079 lines at the 20/50 first-eye heading. The next visual-field table begins at DC 6080.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “6079” or “20/40.” It does not assign this index 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
Does § 4.79 assign a percentage to diagnostic code 6079?
The 2026-10-01 rating table does not list Diagnostic Code 6079. The three 10 percent figures on this page are DC 6066 cells for the acuity pairs Appendix B still numbers 6079. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Do those 10 percent cells carry the special-monthly-compensation footnote?
No. Footnote 1 says to review entitlement under 38 CFR 3.350. It is not printed on these three DC 6066 cells. The footnote does not state a payment amount.
FAQ
What is the VA rating for DC 6079?
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 4.79 does not list Diagnostic Code 6079. Appendix B indexes 6079 as other eye 20/40 (6/12) under vision in 1 eye of 20/100, 20/70, and 20/50. On Diagnostic Code 6066 each of those pairs is 10. Education only.
Is 20/40 in both eyes DC 6079?
No. On DC 6066, vision in one eye 20/40 (6/12) and in the other eye 20/40 (6/12) is 0. Appendix B does not number that row 6079.
Which 20/40 lines are 6077 instead?
Appendix B uses 6077 when the first eye is 10/200, 15/200, or 20/200 and the other eye is 20/40 (6/12). On DC 6066 those cells are 30, 20, and 20.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 6079 or the central-acuity code the decision used, and the vision in each eye.
- 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. The catalog home is the 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
- DC 6074Other Eye 20 40 6 12
- DC 6075Other Eye 10 200 3 60
- DC 6075Other Eye 15 200 4 5 60
- DC 6075Other Eye 20 200 6 60
- DC 6076Other Eye 20 100 6 30
- DC 6076Other Eye 20 50 6 15
- DC 6076Other Eye 20 70 6 21
- DC 6077Other Eye 20 40 6 12
- DC 6078Other Eye 20 100 6 30
- DC 6078Other Eye 20 50 6 15
- DC 6078Other Eye 20 70 6 21
- DC 6080Field vision, impairment
- DC 6081Scotoma
- DC 6090Diplopia
- DC 6091Symblepharon
- DC 6092Diplopia, limited muscle function
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6079 • 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.