VASRD 6205 · Ear, Nose, and Throat
Chronic Otitis Media VA Disability Rating
This code rates chronic middle-ear inflammation based specifically on whether there's active suppuration (drainage) at the time of evaluation - a simpler, two-tier rating than the related code that also requires documented hearing loss. If your ear condition doesn't include measurable hearing impairment, this may be the more applicable code.
VA Rating Tiers
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Ongoing ear drainage |
| 0% | No drainage but may still cause discomfort |
How the VA Evaluates Chronic Otitis Media
The rating distinguishes only between continuing suppuration (drainage), which supports the compensable 10% tier, and no suppuration, which rates at the noncompensable 0% tier - it does not require a hearing loss finding the way some related ear codes do.
Approval outlook
High (~65%) with documented ENT visits.
Veterans service-connected
~7,200 veterans
Typical rating awarded
~10%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule — not official VA statistics.
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Best Evidence to Gather
- •An ENT exam with otoscopic findings documenting the presence or absence of drainage.
- •A history of recurring ear infections.
- •An audiogram, useful context even though hearing loss isn't required for this specific code.
Strategy Tips
- •Include ENT notes that clearly document whether drainage is actively present, since that single finding is what this rating depends on.
- •List the number of ear infections per year, since a documented pattern of recurrence supports the chronic nature of the diagnosis.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •Failure to note active suppuration during the exam, since without it documented, the claim defaults to the noncompensable tier.
- •Missing continuity of care records showing the condition is genuinely chronic.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •Submitting the claim without ENT records, leaving no specialist confirmation of the diagnosis.
- •Lack of a clear diagnosis distinguishing this condition from a single acute infection.
Onset Patterns
- •Chronic otitis media under this code often begins after a series of untreated or under-treated acute ear infections that never fully resolved.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Chronic Otitis Media. Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Common questions about Chronic Otitis Media
- Is Chronic Otitis Media a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Chronic Otitis Media under VASRD diagnostic code 6205 (Ear, Nose, and Throat). This code rates chronic middle-ear inflammation based specifically on whether there's active suppuration (drainage) at the time of evaluation - a simpler, two-tier rating than the related code that also requires documented…
- What VA disability rating can I get for Chronic Otitis Media?
- Possible VA ratings for Chronic Otitis Media are 10%, 0%. Examples: 10%: Ongoing ear drainage; 0%: No drainage but may still cause discomfort.
- What's the typical VA rating awarded for Chronic Otitis Media?
- Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Chronic Otitis Media at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 7,200 veterans are service-connected for Chronic Otitis Media. Estimated approval outlook: High (~65%) with documented ENT visits.
- What evidence helps prove Chronic Otitis Media for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Chronic Otitis Media claim includes: An ENT exam with otoscopic findings documenting the presence or absence of drainage.; A history of recurring ear infections.; An audiogram, useful context even though hearing loss isn't required for this specific code..
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Chronic Otitis Media?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Chronic Otitis Media: Submitting the claim without ENT records, leaving no specialist confirmation of the diagnosis.; Lack of a clear diagnosis distinguishing this condition from a single acute infection..
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Chronic Otitis Media?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Chronic Otitis Media include: Hearing Loss, Tinnitus. Filing for secondary conditions can increase a veteran's combined VA rating.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.87 — Schedule of ratings — diseases of the ear (Diagnostic Code 6205)
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation — the eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
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