Vertigo & vestibular disorders

The VA recognizes vertigo and vestibular (inner-ear balance) disorders, including Meniere's disease, as conditions that can be service-connected and rated. Diseases of the ear are rated under 38 CFR § 4.87.

For a peripheral vestibular disorder under Diagnostic Code 6204, the VA assigns a 10% rating for occasional dizziness and a 30% rating for dizziness with occasional staggering. A note to this code states that objective findings supporting the diagnosis are required before a compensable (paying) rating can be assigned — in plain terms, the VA looks for medical evidence of the condition, not symptoms alone.

Meniere's syndrome (also called endolymphatic hydrops) is rated separately under Diagnostic Code 6205, based on how often attacks of vertigo happen along with hearing loss: 30% for hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month; 60% with attacks and cerebellar gait one to four times a month; and 100% with attacks more than once a week (with or without tinnitus). The rules also let the VA evaluate Meniere's either under this code or by rating the vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus separately — whichever gives the higher overall result, but not both at once.

This is general educational information about how the VA's rules work — not legal advice, not a VA decision, and not a prediction about any individual claim. Outcomes depend on your own facts and evidence; a denial can be appealed.