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Vertigo and other inner-ear (vestibular) disorders cause dizziness and a spinning sensation, sometimes with hearing changes. The VA rates them by how often dizziness and balance problems occur.
VA rating schedule, diagnostic code 6204
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.
Grounded in federal regulations and VA guidance, independently reviewed June 2026. Educational information, not legal advice or a VA determination.
Across 8,561 real Board appeals for Vertigo & vestibular disorders
A denial is often not the end either — remands (shown below) are sent back for more development and can still end in a grant. These are historical outcomes, not a prediction of your case.
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Among the appeals that were granted or partly granted, the most common ways Vertigo & vestibular disorders was linked to service:
In appeals where Vertigo & vestibular disorders was the only condition decided and the Board granted it, the rating most often assigned was:
These appeals involved a recognized exposure — which can mean the link to service is presumed, with no nexus to prove:
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that it is related to a head injury sustained during active duty. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
The Veteran's claim for a separate rating of 30 percent for vertigo is granted, while the claim for an increased rating for tinnitus remains denied.
The Board has granted service connection for vertigo, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms. However, the claim for erectile dysfunction was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.
The Veteran's dizziness is granted as due to an undiagnosed illness, while his left ankle condition and skin condition are denied.
The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the cervical spine with radiculopathy and tinnitus are granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss and vertigo secondary to hearing loss are denied. The Veteran is assigned a 10% rating for his lumbar strain.
The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome was granted a 100% rating effective March 21, 2024. This decision is based on the appeal of his previous claim for a higher rating.
Jump to the decisions from a specific year.
New decisions are added every week, and older years are actively being backfilled — a year that looks thin or missing here (especially 2011–2017) is a gap in our library, not in the Board’s decisions.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.