diabetes Eye Problem (cataracts)

[chiefhouse00]

Greetings

I just found out that I have cataracts developing at a rapid rate in both eyes. I'm been complaining out floaters, watering eyes, and poor vision well before I got out of service (well documented medical records). The doc said normally people with diabetes’s get cataracts but I don't have diabetes. I have a follow-up in six months or sooner if needed. Is Cataract Disease rated and what are some of the causes of this disease.?

Happy Thankgiving

Chiefhouse

[mssoup1]

My husband has a cataract in his right eye. Growing a little, but not real bad at this time. He does have a film over his eye at times. I filed a claim for his cataracts based on the fact that he has taken cortisteroids and steroids for years for his eyes and skin condition, both service connected. I did a lot of research and found that these drugs can cause cataracts. The VAMC eye doctor did not even want to discuss the cataract issue as to the cause. He just had an appointment today with an independent eye doctor. He told us that the cataract he has was not the type that you would normally see with the long term usage of steroids. I do believe him because he was very helpful in getting my husband service connected for his eye condition.

I do know that the VAMC likes to blame cataracts on age, if you happen to be an older person. Maybe some others can help with other causes of cataracts. I did file a claim for this, but I guess this issue for my husband is moot at this point.

Hope this helps you some.

[chiefhouse00]

MSSOUP1, Thanks for your quick response...and Happy Thankgiving to the Family. I did 30 years and had my share of fuel spraying in my eyes and other eye injuries. I've taken over 20 types of medication for my many aliments to include steriod shots for my back problem andd sprays for asthma and sinus problems as well. I'll be crossing the 60 line in six years, hopefully. I kept complaining and no real answer to my eye problem until recently. I'v been out for five years now and all of my aliments seem to be catching up with me. So, I'm going to pursue this and submit a claim to the VA next week.

Best Regards

Chiefhouse

[mssoup1]

Glad I could help some. My husband has terrible skin problems which he has been service connected for for years. About 5 or 6 years ago, he started developing severe eye problems. He had several surgeries with an independent eye doctor because at first he thought maybe the excess skin tissue on his eyelids and around his eyes could be a possible problem. Well, it didn't help. He has been prescribed all of the known medications for his skin and eyes and nothing helps. His eye doctor finally stated that it was his opinion that his eye problem was directly related to his skin problems. The VARO still denied his claim. Wanted to know where the eye doctor got his opinion. We appealed to the BVA and won an instant approval on his eyes. Took a long time to get this claim approved. The main thing with cataracts, it seems, is that there are different causes based on the type of cataract you have. As I said before, the VAMC wants to immediately use age as the cause. But you need to first find out what type of cataract you have, then figure out what the various causes are for that particular kind. Then if you have the problem, you can start from there with your evidence.

As you know, nothing is easy when you are trying to get a claim approved, especially when you are trying to get it approved as a secondary condition. I do know that sometimes cataracts can be caused by trauma to the eyes. I did a lot of reseach after I filed my husbands claim for everything I could find on cataracts. If you can get it documented that yours is due to the trauma you experienced, then you may have a chance. A lot depends on your doctor. Some are reluctant to give an opinion.

Keep us posted on how things are going and if I can be of any help, let me know.

Mssoup1

[Guest jstacy]

Here are the rating codes but it does not give any percentages.

6027 Cataract, traumatic:

Preoperative.

Rate on impairment of vision.

Postoperative.

Rate on impairment of vision and aphakia.

6028 Cataract, senile, and others:

Preoperative.

Rate on impairment of vision.

Postoperative.

Rate on impairment of vision and aphakia.

[frosty69]

here is a site that might help, and below that is the percentages for the eye.

http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/bookc.html

§ 4.84a Schedule of ratings—eye.

DISEASES OF THE EYE

Rating

6000 Uveitis

6001 Keratitis

6002 Scleritis

6003 Iritis

6004 Cyclitis

6005 Choroiditis

6006 Retinitis

6007 Hemorrhage, intra-ocular, recent

6008 Retina, detachment of

6009 Eye, injury of, unhealed:

The above disabilities, in chronic form, are to be rated from 10

percent to 100 percent for impairment of visual acuity or field

loss, pain, rest-requirements, or episodic incapacity, combining

an additional rating of 10 percent during continuance of active

pathology. Minimum rating during active pathology 10

6010 Eye, tuberculosis of, active or inactive:

Active 100

Inactive: See §§4.88b and 4.89.

6011 Retina, localized scars, atrophy, or irregularities of, centrally located,

with irregular, duplicated enlarged or diminished image:

Unilateral or bilateral 10

6012 Glaucoma, congestive or inflammatory:

Frequent attacks of considerable duration; during continuance of

actual total disability 100

Or, rate as iritis, diagnostic Code 6003.

6013 Glaucoma, simple, primary, noncongestive:

Rate on impairment of visual acuity or field loss.

Minimum rating 10

6014 New growths, malignant (eyeball only):

Pending completion of operation or other indicated treatment 100

Healed; rate on residuals.

6015 New growths, benign (eyeball and adnexa, other than superficial):

Rate on impaired vision, minimum 10

Healed; rate on residuals.

6016 Nystagmus, central 10

6017 Conjunctivitis, trachomatous, chronic:

Active; rate for impairment of visual acuity; minimum rating

while there is active pathology. 30

Healed; rate on residuals, if no residuals 0

6018 Conjunctivitis, other, chronic:

Active, with objective symptoms 10

Healed; rate on residuals, if no residuals 0

6019 Ptosis, unilateral or bilateral:

Pupil wholly obscured.

Rate equivalent to 5/200 (1.5/60).

Pupil one-half or more obscured.

Rate equivalent to 20/100 (6/30).

With less interference with vision.

Rate as disfigurement.

6020 Ectropion:

Bilateral 20

Unilateral 10

6021 Entropion:

Bilateral 20

Unilateral 10

6022 Lagophthalmos:

Bilateral 20

Unilateral 10

6023 Eyebrows, loss of, complete, unilateral or bilateral 10

6024 Eyelashes, loss of, complete, unilateral or bilateral 10

6025 Epiphora (lacrymal duct, interference with, from any cause):

Bilateral 20

Unilateral 10

6026 Neuritis, optic:

Rate underlying disease, and combine impairment of visual acuity or field loss.

6027 Cataract, traumatic:

Preoperative.

Rate on impairment of vision.

Postoperative.

Rate on impairment of vision and aphakia.

6028 Cataract, senile, and others:

Preoperative.

Rate on impairment of vision.

Postoperative.

Rate on impairment of vision and aphakia.

6029 Aphakia:

Bilateral or unilateral 30

Note: The 30 percent rating prescribed for aphakia is a minimum rating to be applied to the unilateral or bilateral condition and is not to be combined with any other rating for impaired vision. When only one eye is aphakic, the eye having poorer corrected visual acuity will be rated on the basis of its acuity without correction. When both eyes are aphakic, both will be rated on corrected vision. The corrected vision of one or both aphakic eyes will be taken one step worse than the ascertained value, however, not better than 20/70 (6/21). Combined ratings for disabilities of the same eye should not exceed the amount for total loss of vision of that eye unless there is an enucleation or a serious cosmetic defect added to the total loss of vision.

6030 Accommodation, paralysis of 20

6031 Dacryocystitis.

Rate as epiphora.

6032 Eyelids, loss of portion of:

Rate as disfigurement. (See diseases of the skin.)

6033 Lens, crystalline, dislocation of:

Rate as aphakia.

6034 Pterygium:

Rate for loss of vision, if any.

6035 Keratoconus: To be evaluated on impairment of corrected visual acuity using

contact lenses.

Note: When contact lenses are medically required for keratoconus, either unilateral or bilateral, the minimum rating will be 30 percent.

IMPAIRMENT OF CENTRAL VISUAL ACUITY

Rating

6061 Anatomical loss both eyes 1005

6062 Blindness in both eyes having only light perception 1005

Anatomical loss of 1 eye:

6063 In the other eye 5/200 (1.5/60) 1005

6064 In the other eye 10/200 (3/60) 906

6064 In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60) 806

6064 In the other eye 20/200 (6/60) 706

6065 In the other eye 20/100 (6/30) 606

6065 In the other eye 20/70 (6/21) 606

6065 In the other eye 20/50 (6/15) 506

6066 In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) 406

Blindness in 1 eye, having only light perception:

6067 In the other eye 5/200 (1.5/60) 1005

6068 In the other eye 10/200 (3/60) 905

6068 In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60) 805

6068 In the other eye 20/200 (6/60) 705

6069 In the other eye 20/100 (6/30) 605

6069 In the other eye 20/70 (6/21) 505

6069 In the other eye 20/50 (6/15) 405

6070 In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) 305

Vision in 1 eye 5/200 (1.5/60):

6071 In the other eye 5/200 (1.5/60) 1005

6072 In the other eye 10/200 (3/60) 90

6072 In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60) 80

6072 In the other eye 20/200 (6/60) 70

6073 In the other eye 20/100 (6/30) 60

6073 In the other eye 20/70 (6/21) 50

6073 In the other eye 20/50 (6/15) 40

6074 In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) 30

Vision in 1 eye 10/200 (3/60):

6075 In the other eye 10/200 (3/60) 90

6075 In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60) 80

6075 In the other eye 20/200 (6/60) 70

6076 In the other eye 20/100 (6/30) 60

6076 In the other eye 20/70 (6/21) 50

6076 In the other eye 20/50 (6/15) 40

6077 In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) 30

Vision in 1 eye 15/200 (4.5/60):

6075 In the other eye 15/200 (4.5/60) 80

6075 In the other eye 20/200 (6/60) 70

6076 In the other eye 20/100 (6/30) 60

6076 In the other eye 20/70 (6/21) 40

6076 In the other eye 20/50 (6/15) 30

6077 In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) 20

Vision in 1 eye 20/200 (6/60):

6075 In the other eye 20/200 (6/60) 70

6076 In the other eye 20/100 (6/30) 60

6076 In the other eye 20/70 (6/21) 40

6076 In the other eye 20/50 (6/15) 30

6077 In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) 20

Vision in 1 eye 20/100 (6/30):

6078 In the other eye 20/100 (6/30) 50

6078 In the other eye 20/70 (6/21) 30

6078 In the other eye 20/50 (6/15) 20

6079 In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) 10

Vision in 1 eye 20/70 (6/21):

6078 In the other eye 20/70 (6/21) 30

6078 In the other eye 20/50 (6/15) 20

6079 In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) 10

Vision in 1 eye 20/50 (6/15):

6078 In the other eye 20/50 (6/15) 10

6079 In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) 10

Vision in 1 eye 20/40 (6/12):

In the other eye 20/40 (6/12) 0

5Also entitled to special monthly compensation.

6Add 10% if artificial eye cannot be worn; also entitled to special monthly compensation.

RATINGS FOR IMPAIRMENT OF FIELD OF VISION

Rating

6080 Field vision, impairment of:

Homonymous hemianopsia 30

Field, visual, loss of temporal half:

Bilateral 30

Unilateral 10

Or rate as 20/70 (6/21).

Field, visual, loss of nasal half:

Bilateral 20

Unilateral 10

Or rate as 20/50 (6/15).

Field, visual, concentric contraction of:

To 5º:

Bilateral 100

Unilateral 30

Or rate as 5/200 (1.5/60).

To 15º but not to 5°:

Bilateral 70

Unilateral 20

Or rate as 20/200 (6/60).

To 30º but not to 15º:

Bilateral 50

Unilateral 10

Or rate as 20/100 (6/30).

To 45º but not to 30º:

Bilateral 30

Unilateral 10

Or rate as 20/70 (6/21):

To 60º but not to 45º:

Bilateral 20

Unilateral 10

Or rate as 20/50 (6/15).

Note (1): Correct diagnosis reflecting disease or injury should be cited.

Note (2): Demonstrable pathology commensurate with the functional loss will be required. The concentric contraction ratings require contraction within the stated degrees, temporally; the nasal contraction may be less. The alternative ratings are to be employed when there is ratable defect of visual acuity, or a different impairment of the visual field in the other eye. Concentric contraction resulting from demonstrable pathology to 5 degrees or less will be considered on a parity with reduction of central visual acuity to 5/200 (1.5/60) or less for all purposes including entitlement under §3.350(:)(2) of this chapter; not however, for the purpose of §3.350(a) of this chapter. Entitlement on account of blindness requiring regular aid and attendance, §3.350© of this chapter, will continue to be determined on the facts in the individual case.

6081 Scotoma, pathological, unilateral:

Large or centrally located, minimum 10

Note: Rate on loss of central visual acuity or impairment of field vision. Do not combine with any other rating for visual impairment.

RATINGS FOR IMPAIRMENT OF MUSCLE FUNCTION

Equivalent

Degree of Diplopia visual acuity

6090 Diplopia (double vision).

(a) Central 20º 5/200

( 21º to 30º:

(1) Down 15/200

(2) Lateral 20/100

(3) Up 20/70

© 31º to 40º :

(1) Down 20/200

(2) Lateral 20/70

(3) Up 20/40

Notes: (1) Correct diagnosis reflecting disease or injury should be cited.

(2) The above ratings will be applied to only one eye. Ratings will not be applied for both diplopia and decreased visual acuity or field of vision in the same eye. When diplopia is present and there is also ratable impairment of visual acuity or field of vision of both eyes the above diplopia ratings will be applied to the poorer eye while the better eye is rated according to the best corrected visual acuity or visual field.

(3) When the diplopia field extends beyond more than one quadrant or more than one range of degrees, the evaluation for diplopia will be based on the quadrant and degree range that provide the highest evaluation.

(4) When diplopia exists in two individual and separate areas of the same eye, the equivalent visual acuity will be taken one step worse, but no worse than 5/200.

6091 Symblepharon.

Rate as limited muscle function, diagnostic code 6090.

6092 Diplopia, due to limited muscle function.

Rate as diagnostic code 6090.

[29 FR 6718, May 22,1964, as amended at 34 FR 5062, Mar. 11, 1969; 40 FR 42537, Sept. 15, 1975; 41 FR 11297, Mar. 18, 1976; 43 FR 45354, Oct. 2, 1978; 51 FR 6411, Feb. 24, 1986; 53 FR 30264, Aug. 11, 1988; 53 FR 50955, Dec. 19, 1988; 57 FR 24364, June 9, 1992; 60 FR 7124, Feb. 7, 1995]

[vaf]

My husband has been taking steroid medication for 13 years, he is 56 years old. He developed cataracts a couple of years ago, and had one removed last year. We've filed a claim but expect a fight. I wonder what age the VA considers "old enough" to develop age-related cataracts.

This is a perfect example of the importance of knowing the side effects of medication. For instance, long-term steroid use can also lead to carpal tunnel. Medical use of testosterone can lead to the development of gallbladder disease.