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If you ever experience a spinning sensation, hearing loss, or occasional dizziness, you may be eligible for a VA rating for vertigo.
Veterans experiencing vertigo know the impact it can make on daily life, and VA disability benefits could help them get the relief they’ve been waiting for.
This guide will help you understand how the VA rates vertigo, including how to navigate the VA claims process to secure the VA compensation and benefits you rightfully deserve.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- Vertigo is generally caused by an infection of the inner ear, leading to nausea, vomiting, headaches, balance problems, and motion sickness.
- Veterans are at an increased risk for developing vertigo due to the physical demands and potential injuries experienced during their military service.
- The VA rates vertigo under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Ear, using diagnostic codes 6204 or 6205.
- Vertigo VA ratings range from 10%-100%, depending on the severity, duration, and frequency of your symptoms.
What Causes Vertigo in Veterans?
Vertigo is a sensation of spinning or dizziness that can occur when the body’s balance system is disrupted.
It’s frequently linked to problems with the inner ear or the vestibular system, which controls balance.
However, vertigo may also be a symptom of an underlying condition, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You may also be at risk of vertigo if you were exposed to loud noises, like explosive blasts.
Causes of vertigo include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
- Certain medications
Vertigo symptoms range from minor to severely debilitating. The most common symptom of vertigo is dizziness; however, you may also experience:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Balance problems
- Tinnitus
- Headaches
- Motion sickness
- Hearing loss
- Inner ear problems
VA Ratings for Vertigo
There is no specific diagnostic code (DC) for vertigo; instead, the VA recognizes vertigo as a condition associated with peripheral vestibular disorders.
Peripheral vestibular disorders are conditions that impact your inner ear or the nerve that carries balance signals to your brain (vestibular nerve).
However, depending on your specific vertigo symptoms, you can find the vertigo VA ratings under the following two diagnostic codes under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Ear.
- DC 6204 (Peripheral vestibular disorders)
- DC 6205 (Meniere’s syndrome)
Your vertigo VA rating will depend on the severity, frequency, and duration of your symptoms.
VA Rating Chart for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
| DC 6204 – Peripheral vestibular disorders | VA Rating |
| Dizziness and occasional staggering | 30% |
| Occasional dizziness | 10% |
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.
VA Rating Chart for Meniere’s Syndrome
| DC 6205 – Meniere’s syndrome (endolymphatic hydrops) | VA Rating |
| Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly, with or without tinnitus | 100% |
| Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month, with or without tinnitus | 60% |
| Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with or without tinnitus | 30% |
Note: Evaluate Meniere’s syndrome either under these criteria or by separately evaluating vertigo (as a peripheral vestibular disorder), hearing impairment, and tinnitus, whichever method results in a higher overall evaluation. However, do not combine an evaluation for hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205.
Proving Service Connection for Vertigo
To receive a VA disability rating for vertigo, you must establish a service connection.
To establish service connection, you must prove the following:
- A current diagnosis of vertigo
- An in-service event, injury, or illness that caused or aggravated the disability
- A medical nexus (or link) between your condition and the incident (can be a Nexus Letter)
- Pro Tip: If you haven’t received a medical diagnosis for vertigo, you must see your healthcare provider before filing for a vertigo VA disability claim.
Related: Understanding the 5 Types of Service Connection
Vertigo as a Secondary Condition
Secondary conditions occur when a service-connected disability has caused or has aggravated a new or pre-existing condition, illness, or injury. Unfortunately, many veterans are all too familiar with developing secondary conditions.
While separate conditions, many veterans experience both vertigo and tinnitus, leading to the potential for additional VA disability benefits if you can prove secondary service connection. Research shows that disorders in the inner ear may contribute to balance problems, including vertigo.
Vertigo Secondary to Tinnitus: A vertigo secondary to tinnitus VA rating depends on the severity of your symptoms, including their frequency and duration.
Vertigo Secondary to Migraines: VA rating for vertigo secondary to migraines if your service-connected migraine headaches cause vertigo. Studies show that vestibular migraines are the second most common reason why people experience vertigo.
- Pro Tip: Secondary conditions not included on the VA’s presumptive list benefit from a credible Nexus Letter supporting the claim.
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Vertigo and TDIU
If your vertigo prevents you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may be eligible for VA compensation or benefits at the same level as a veteran with a 100% disability rating.
Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is a VA program that’s available if you can’t hold down a steady job that supports you financially because of your service-connected disability.
In addition, one of the following must be true:
- You have at least 1 service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling, or
- You have 2 or more service-connected disabilities, with at least 1 rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
Related: VA TDIU Approval Rate: Top 5 Questions Answered
(FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a C&P exam for vertigo?
No, you won’t necessarily need a compensation and pension (C&P) exam for vertigo. However, if the VA determines they need more information to decide your claim, you’ll be contacted to attend a C&P exam.
If you have enough filed medical evidence to support your claim, the VA will follow the Acceptable Clinical Evidence (ACE) process. In this case, the VA will review your medical records and request additional evidence if needed instead of asking you to attend an exam.
Related: How Do I Know If My C&P Exam Went Well?
What is the average VA rating for vertigo?
The average VA rating for vertigo depends on the severity and frequency of your symptoms, including hearing impairment, dizziness, and occasional staggering.
Can I get a VA rating for dizziness?
Yes, you may qualify for a VA rating for dizziness. However, since there is no specific diagnostic code for dizziness, you’ll be rated under a diagnostic code with similar symptoms.
Is there a benign paroxysmal positional vertigo VA rating?
No, there isn’t a specific benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) VA rating; however, you may still be eligible for VA disability benefits under a similar condition.
Your BPPV VA rating will depend on the frequency, severity, and frequency of your vertigo episodes.
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Kelly Olone
Kelly Olone is a military spouse who earned her degree in Psychology from Florida International University. After working in the non-profit sector for several years, she turned to her passion for writing. She aims to contribute to a better understanding of the valuable benefits that veterans deserve. As a mom, Kelly navigates the delicate balance between deadlines and bedtime stories with finesse.
