Post: Getting VA Disability for Blindness in One Eye

blind in one eye VA disability Over a million veterans in the U.S. are impacted by vision loss, including more than 130,000 who are classified by VA as legally blind. Veterans who are blind in one eye and can link their disability to military service may qualify for VA disability benefits and other accessibility services and support from VA designed specifically for veterans with vision loss. How the VA Calculates the Disability Rating

VA uses 38 CFR § 4.79 as the schedule for rating disabilities of the eye. This includes veterans’ disability claims related to loss of one eye and blindness in one eye.

The VA disability rating for partial blindness can range from 10% to 100%. A common disability rating for a veteran blind in one eye with ‘good’ vision (20/40) in the other eye is 30%, or 40% with 20/20 vision in the second eye.

However, a veteran who is blind in one eye with exceptional vision in the other will likely not receive a VA disability rating for vision loss. In this case, exceptional vision in one eye offsets blindness in the other, as rated by VA. The key difference between these two examples is the quality of vision in the veteran’s ‘good’ eye. Monthly Compensation and Benefits

In addition to VA disability benefits, veterans impacted by accessibility issues related to vision loss or the loss of an organ (eye) may be eligible for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). VA also offers additional supportive services and benefits for things like making alterations to a veteran’s home that improve accessibility, low vision aids, and unemployability compensation benefits. Special Monthly Compensation

Veterans who are impacted by vision loss may be eligible for tax-free Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) benefits. Individuals with severe service-connected disabilities that impact their daily life and require regular assistance by another person (also called aid and attendance) – can apply. SMC-K

Veterans who are blind in one eye may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation – SMC-K, a category that covers the loss or loss of use of a body part. SMC-K is unique because […]

Getting VA Disability for Blindness in One Eye