Which statement correctly describes the relationship between vision impairment and rating when permanent and stationary occurs in a bilateral loss of vision?

• A. Ratings are based on vision with best practicable correction.
• B. Whichever eye rates highest is used.
• C. Ratings are based on uncorrected vision.
• D. The standard rating shall be based on disability found under reduction of vision plus 1/2 the difference between disabilities 2.4 and 2.3.

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is that, once vision loss is permanent and stationary, the disability rating is based on the vision with the best practicable correction. In other words, you look at how well the person can see with the best possible correction (glasses, contacts, surgery, etc.), not the unaided or current unaided acuity. This ensures the rating reflects the enduring impairment after optimal correction has been applied, which is important when the condition is not expected to improve.

In bilateral loss, you still assess each eye with its best corrected vision and derive the overall rating from those best-corrected levels, rather than using uncorrected vision or simply taking the eye with higher impairment. The other options don’t fit because uncorrected vision isn’t used once the condition is permanent and stationary, and rating isn’t determined by “whichever eye rates highest” or by the specific reduction-plus-difference formula.