VASRD 6204 · Ear Conditions
Peripheral Vestibular Disorders VA Disability Rating
Peripheral vestibular disorders affect the inner ear structures responsible for balance, causing dizziness, vertigo, and sometimes nausea that can range from occasional to disabling. Common causes include ear infections, head trauma, or chronic noise exposure, which makes this a frequent secondary claim alongside hearing loss or tinnitus.
VA Rating Tiers
How the VA Evaluates Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
The rating depends on how often dizziness episodes occur and whether they're severe enough to cause staggering or loss of balance - occasional mild dizziness rates lower than frequent episodes that visibly affect your ability to walk steadily.
Approval outlook
Moderate – strong with ENT or neuro confirmation.
Veterans service-connected
~92,000 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
- •A diagnosis from an ENT specialist or neurologist confirming a vestibular disorder.
- •Medical notes documenting how frequently vertigo or dizziness episodes occur.
- •Balance or gait exam findings that objectively demonstrate the impact on stability.
Strategy Tips
- •Describe how often dizziness episodes occur and how they affect daily activities like walking, driving, or working at heights, since frequency and functional impact drive the rating.
- •Get ENT or neurology records specifically documenting the vestibular diagnosis, rather than relying on a general complaint of dizziness.
- •Include any history of falls or loss of balance, since staggering or imbalance is a specific criterion separating the 30% tier from the 10% tier.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •Reporting dizziness without any supporting exam findings or formal diagnosis, which makes it difficult for a rater to confirm a vestibular cause.
- •Not having a specialist evaluation on file - a general practitioner's note alone often isn't enough to establish this specific diagnosis.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •Missing a formal medical diagnosis of a vestibular disorder, since general 'dizziness' complaints without a specific diagnosis are harder to rate.
- •Not describing how often symptoms occur, since episode frequency is the specific factor that separates the two rating tiers.
Onset Patterns
- •Peripheral vestibular disorders often result from ear infections, head trauma, or chronic noise exposure - all common in military service.
- •Symptoms can worsen gradually over time or with age, which is why establishing an in-service cause, rather than a later, unrelated onset, matters for direct service connection.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Peripheral Vestibular Disorders. Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Anxiety
Frequent dizziness can cause panic
Falls
Imbalance increases risk of injury
Common Among These Military Jobs
Military occupational specialties (MOS) where Peripheral Vestibular Disorders is frequently claimed.
Common questions about Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
- Is Peripheral Vestibular Disorders a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Peripheral Vestibular Disorders under VASRD diagnostic code 6204 (Ear Conditions). Peripheral vestibular disorders affect the inner ear structures responsible for balance, causing dizziness, vertigo, and sometimes nausea that can range from occasional to disabling. Common causes include ear infection…
- What VA disability rating can I get for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders?
- Possible VA ratings for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders are 30%, 10%. Examples: 30%: Frequent dizziness and loss of balance; 10%: Mild dizziness now and then.
- What's the typical VA rating awarded for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders?
- Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 92,000 veterans are service-connected for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate – strong with ENT or neuro confirmation.
- What evidence helps prove Peripheral Vestibular Disorders for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Peripheral Vestibular Disorders claim includes: A diagnosis from an ENT specialist or neurologist confirming a vestibular disorder.; Medical notes documenting how frequently vertigo or dizziness episodes occur.; Balance or gait exam findings that objectively demonstrate the impact on stability..
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Peripheral Vestibular Disorders?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders: Missing a formal medical diagnosis of a vestibular disorder, since general 'dizziness' complaints without a specific diagnosis are harder to rate.; Not describing how often symptoms occur, since episode frequency is the specific factor that separates the…
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Peripheral Vestibular Disorders?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Peripheral Vestibular Disorders include: Anxiety, Falls. 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 6204)
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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