YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Peripheral Vestibular Disorders (Vertigo) VA Disability Rating
The VA rates Peripheral Vestibular Disorders under diagnostic code 6204, in 38 CFR § 4.87 (diseases of the ear), and the schedule provides two evaluation levels for it: 30% and 10%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
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.
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.
- Diagnostic code
- 6204
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.87
- Schedule levels
- 30% and 10%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
This code prints no 0% row. Under 38 CFR § 4.31, a 0% evaluation is assigned where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Peripheral Vestibular Disorders VA rating criteria (DC 6204)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
IN THE REGULATION’S OWN WORDS
What 38 CFR also says about Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
The notes 38 CFR Part 4 prints with these criteria, quoted. They govern how the evaluation is made without being a rating level themselves.
- “Note: Objective findings supporting the diagnosis of vestibular disequilibrium are required before a compensable evaluation can be assigned under this code. Hearing impairment or suppuration shall be separately rated and combined.”DC 6204
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Peripheral Vestibular Disorders claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Peripheral Vestibular Disorders claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim3 tips
- 01
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.
- 02
Get ENT or neurology records specifically documenting the vestibular diagnosis, rather than relying on a general complaint of dizziness.
- 03
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 to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Reporting dizziness without any supporting exam findings or formal diagnosis, which makes it difficult for a rater to confirm a vestibular cause.
- 02
Not having a specialist evaluation on file - a general practitioner's note alone often isn't enough to establish this specific diagnosis.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Missing a formal medical diagnosis of a vestibular disorder, since general 'dizziness' complaints without a specific diagnosis are harder to rate.
- 02
Not describing how often symptoms occur, since episode frequency is the specific factor that separates the two rating tiers.
When symptoms may first appear2 tips
- 01
Peripheral vestibular disorders often result from ear infections, head trauma, or chronic noise exposure - all common in military service.
- 02
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.
YOUR SERVICE STORY
Military jobs associated with Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
More by branch: Marines
THE BROADER PICTURE
Peripheral Vestibular Disorders by the numbers
- 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.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
Is Vertigo 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 infections, head trauma, or chronic noise exposure, which makes this a frequent secondary claim alongside hearing loss or tinnitus.
What VA disability rating can I get for Vertigo?
Possible VA ratings for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders are 30%, 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 30%: Dizziness and occasional staggering; 10%: Occasional dizziness.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Vertigo?
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 Vertigo 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.
Which DBQ is used for Vertigo?
VA's Ear (including Vestibular and Infectious) Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Vertigo?
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 two rating tiers.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.87, Schedule of ratings, diseases of the ear (Diagnostic Code 6204)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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