The VA rates vertigo under Diagnostic Code 6204 (peripheral vestibular disorders), which pays 10% or 30%, and rates Meniere's disease under Diagnostic Code 6205, which pays 30%, 60%, or 100% depending on how often you have vertigo attacks and how much hearing loss goes with them. You cannot get separate ratings for vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss if they're all part of one Meniere's disease diagnosis. The VA uses whichever code produces the higher combined rating.
If dizziness, balance problems, ringing ears, or hearing loss started or got worse during your military service, you may qualify for monthly disability compensation. Here's exactly how the VA rates these conditions in 2026, what evidence you need, and how to apply.
How the VA Rates Vertigo (Diagnostic Code 6204)
Vertigo caused by an inner ear problem that isn't diagnosed as Meniere's disease falls under 38 CFR 4.87, Diagnostic Code 6204, "peripheral vestibular disorders." This code tops out at 30%, which is lower than what Meniere's disease can pay.
| Rating | Symptoms |
|---|
| 30% | Dizziness and occasional staggering |
| 10% | Occasional dizziness |
| 0% | Nonspecific dizziness, no objective vestibular findings |
To get a compensable rating (10% or higher) under DC 6204, you need objective medical evidence of vestibular dysfunction, not just your own report of feeling dizzy. Common tests examiners rely on include electronystagmography (ENG), videonystagmography (VNG), auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, and clinical maneuvers like the Dix-Hallpike test. If you have hearing loss or ear infections (suppuration) along with the vertigo, those get rated separately under their own diagnostic codes and combined with your vertigo rating using the VA's combined ratings table, not simply added together.
How the VA Rates Meniere's Disease (Diagnostic Code 6205)
Meniere's disease is a specific inner ear disorder that causes recurring episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear. Because it's a distinct diagnosis with its own combination of symptoms, the VA rates it under Diagnostic Code 6205, which can reach a 100% rating on its own, something DC 6204 cannot do.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|
| 100% | Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly, with or without tinnitus |
| 60% | Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month, with or without tinnitus |
| 30% | Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with or without tinnitus |
A key rule under DC 6205: tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo caused by Meniere's disease cannot be rated separately in addition to the 6205 rating. They're baked into the single Meniere's rating. However, the VA is required to rate you under whichever code (6204, 6205, or the combination of separate codes for hearing loss and tinnitus) results in the highest overall percentage. Your claims examiner should evaluate both approaches and apply whichever produces a bigger number for you.
"Cerebellar gait" refers to a staggering, unsteady walk caused by loss of balance, which is the objective sign the VA looks for to confirm frequent, severe vertigo attacks. If your medical records or VA exam don't document gait disturbance, it can be harder to reach the 60% or 100% levels even if you report frequent dizziness.
Vertigo vs. Meniere's Disease: Which Rating Pays More?
| Factor | Vertigo (DC 6204) | Meniere's Disease (DC 6205) |
|---|
| Maximum rating | 30% | 100% |
| Minimum compensable rating | 10% | 30% |
| Requires cerebellar gait for higher ratings | No | Yes, for 60% and 100% |
| Hearing loss rated separately | Yes | No, included in the single rating |
| Tinnitus rated separately | Yes | No, included in the single rating |
| Objective testing required | Yes (ENG, VNG, ABR, clinical maneuvers) | Yes (audiometric testing, vertigo frequency documentation) |
If your medical evidence supports a Meniere's disease diagnosis with frequent vertigo attacks, that rating path almost always pays more than being rated separately for isolated vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus, because Meniere's disease can climb to 100% by itself.
2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates
VA disability pay increased 2.8% for 2026 under the annual cost-of-living adjustment, effective December 1, 2025. Here's what monthly compensation looks like for a veteran with no dependents at the ratings most relevant to vertigo and Meniere's disease claims.
| Disability Rating | Monthly Payment (Veteran Alone, 2026) |
|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Veterans with a spouse, children, or dependent parents receive higher monthly amounts at the 30% rating and above. If Meniere's disease is your only service-connected condition and it's rated at 100%, you may also qualify for VA health care priority group placement and, in some cases, Special Monthly Compensation if the condition causes additional loss of function.
What Evidence You Need for a Vertigo or Meniere's Disease Claim
The VA requires three things to approve a service connection claim for vertigo or Meniere's disease.
- A current diagnosis. An ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist) or audiologist needs to confirm the diagnosis, ideally with audiometric testing and documentation of vertigo episodes.
- An in-service event, injury, or illness. This could be noise exposure, a head injury, an ear infection during service, or documentation that symptoms began while on active duty.
- A medical nexus. A doctor's opinion linking your current vertigo or Meniere's disease to the in-service event, stating it is "at least as likely as not" connected.
Filing as a Secondary Condition
Many veterans already have service-connected tinnitus or hearing loss and later develop vertigo or a Meniere's disease diagnosis. In that case, you can file a secondary service connection claim under 38 CFR 3.310, arguing that the new condition was caused or worsened by the already-service-connected condition. A nexus letter from a private physician explaining the medical relationship between the two conditions strengthens this type of claim significantly. Note that if your vertigo is a symptom of an already service-connected Meniere's disease, it typically can't be broken out and claimed as a separate secondary condition to tinnitus, since DC 6205 already accounts for it.
How to File Your VA Claim
- Gather medical records. Include military treatment records, private ENT or audiology records, and any imaging or vestibular testing results.
- File the claim online. Go to VA.gov and file a disability compensation claim (VA Form 21-526EZ) under the "vertigo" or "Meniere's disease" condition category.
- Attend your Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam. The VA will schedule an exam with an audiologist or ENT specialist to assess the frequency and severity of your symptoms and confirm objective findings.
- Submit buddy statements if helpful. Statements from family, fellow service members, or coworkers describing how often you experience dizziness or balance problems can support your claimed frequency of attacks.
- Track your claim. Check status through your VA.gov account. Most disability claims take several months to process, and complex ear conditions may require additional development if the C&P exam doesn't clearly document vertigo frequency.
If your claim is denied or you receive a lower rating than the evidence supports, you can file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, request a Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Other Benefits You May Qualify For
A VA disability rating for vertigo or Meniere's disease is one piece of a larger picture. Many veterans with service-connected conditions also qualify for VA health care, Social Security disability if the condition limits your ability to work, and other federal assistance programs based on income. Use our free screener to check what else you may qualify for at /screener.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VA rating for Meniere's disease?
Meniere's disease is rated under Diagnostic Code 6205 at 30%, 60%, or 100%, based on how often vertigo attacks occur and whether they're accompanied by cerebellar gait (unsteady walking) and hearing impairment. Attacks less than once a month rate at 30%. One to four times a month rates at 60%. More than once a week rates at 100%.
Can you get separate ratings for vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss with Meniere's disease?
No. If tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo are all symptoms of the same diagnosed Meniere's disease, the VA rates them together under DC 6205 rather than as separate disabilities. The VA will use whichever rating approach, combined 6205 or separate codes, produces the higher overall percentage for you.
What is the highest VA rating for vertigo alone?
Vertigo rated under Diagnostic Code 6204 (peripheral vestibular disorders) tops out at 30%. To reach a higher rating, such as 60% or 100%, your condition typically needs to meet the criteria for Meniere's disease under DC 6205, which requires documented hearing impairment along with frequent vertigo attacks and cerebellar gait.
Does the VA require objective testing to rate vertigo?
Yes. The VA requires objective evidence of vestibular dysfunction before assigning a compensable rating for vertigo. This usually comes from tests like electronystagmography (ENG), videonystagmography (VNG), auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, or documented results from clinical balance maneuvers performed during your exam.
How much does 100% VA disability pay in 2026?
A veteran with no dependents rated at 100% disabled receives $3,938.58 per month in 2026, reflecting the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment that took effect December 1, 2025. Veterans with a spouse, children, or dependent parents receive additional amounts on top of this base rate.
Can Meniere's disease be service-connected as secondary to tinnitus?
Generally, no, if the vertigo is part of the Meniere's disease diagnosis, because DC 6205 already accounts for the relationship between vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus in a single rating. However, veterans can still file a secondary service connection claim for Meniere's disease itself if they can show it developed as a result of an already service-connected condition, supported by a medical nexus letter.
How long does a VA claim for vertigo or Meniere's disease take?
Processing times vary, but claims involving vestibular disorders often take several months due to the need for specialized audiology or ENT exams and objective testing. Filing complete medical evidence upfront, including a diagnosis, in-service event documentation, and a nexus opinion, can help avoid delays caused by the VA requesting additional development.
