Vertigo VA Rating Guide for Veterans Explained

If you’re dealing with vertigo, you know it’s more than feeling dizzy once in a while. Spinning sensations, balance problems, and sudden episodes can affect your ability to work, drive, or move safely through daily life.  

You may be eligible for a vertigo VA rating if your military service caused or worsened your condition. 

This post explains how the VA rates vertigo, what causes it, how it differs from Ménière’s disease, and the how strong medical evidence is crucial for establishing service connection.

Key Takeaways

• A VA vertigo rating depends on the frequency of dizziness and balance issues documented in your medical records. 

• Most vertigo claims receive a 10% or 30% rating, unless they are part of a broader current diagnosis, such as Meniere’s disease. 

• Vertigo is often service-connected as a secondary condition, including tinnitus, migraines, or head injury. 

Causes of Vertigo in Veterans

Vertigo can have several causes, many of which are linked to conditions or exposures during military service. Identifying the cause matters because it affects how the VA evaluates and rates your condition. 

Common causes of vertigo include: 

• Inner ear or vestibular disorders 

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) 

• Migraines 

• Ear infections or barotrauma 

• Meniere’s disease 

In some cases, vertigo develops as a secondary condition related to an existing service-connected disability. 

For example, you may be eligible for a vertigo secondary to tinnitus VA rating if medical evidence shows your service-connected tinnitus caused or aggravated your vertigo. 

>> Learn how the VA rates Meniere’s disease

How the VA Rates Vertigo

The VA typically evaluates vertigo under DC 6204 (peripheral vestibular disorders) or DC 6205 (Meniere’s syndrome). VA ratings for vertigo range from 10% to 100%, depending on your specific symptoms. 

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. 

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. But don’t combine an evaluation for hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205. 

Vertigo vs. Meniere’s Disease

Vertigo is a symptom that causes spinning or balance problems, not a diagnosis. It describes what you feel rather than the underlying cause, and it can occur on its own or as part of another condition. 

For example, vertigo can result from inner ear disorders, migraines, head injuries, or conditions affecting balance and the nervous system. 

On the other hand, Meniere’s disease is a diagnosed inner ear disorder and a common cause of chronic vertigo. It typically includes vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear pressure. 

Additional vertigo symptoms include: 

• Spinning or whirling sensations 

• Unsteadiness when standing or walking 

• Lightheadedness 

• Nausea or vomiting 

• Difficulty focusing 

Establishing Service Connection for Vertigo

To be eligible for a vertigo VA rating, you must prove the following:  

• A current medical diagnosis of vertigo, and  

• An in-service event, injury, illness, or aggravation, and  

• A medical nexus, or link, between your current diagnosis and the in-service event, injury, illness, or aggravation (e.g., a nexus letter)

Did you know? A nexus letter is a powerful tool for establishing the medical link between your current diagnosis and an in-service event.

How to File a Claim

You can file a VA claim for vertigo using VA Form 21-526EZ:  

• Online 

• By mail 

• Via fax 

• In person at a VA regional office 

Including medical records documenting symptom frequency, balance issues, and functional impact can improve the VA’s evaluation of your claim. 

C&P Exam for Vertigo

If you file a claim, the VA may schedule a compensation & pension (C&P) exam.  

During the exam, the examiner evaluates how often dizziness occurs, whether balance problems are present, and how symptoms affect daily activities and safety. 

In some cases, the VA may use a vertigo DBQ (disability benefits questionnaire) or similar examination worksheet to document symptoms, functional impact, and clinical findings.  

A DBQ from a licensed medical provider can also help clearly outline the severity of your condition and support consistent evaluation during the claims process.

Conclusion

Vertigo can be difficult to live with and just as difficult to explain during a VA disability claim.  

Understanding how the VA evaluates vertigo, what diagnostic codes apply, and how service connection is established can put you in a stronger position when filing.  

Whether vertigo stands alone or is part of a larger condition, such as Meniere’s disease, clear medical evidence and consistent documentation are key to how your claim is reviewed and rated. 

Medical Evidence Wins VA Claims

Did you know that a lack of medical evidence is the #1 reason VA disability claims are denied? 

Medical evidence is crucial for VA raters reviewing a disability claim. 

Telemedica provides solutions for veterans looking to bolster their claims through high-quality medical evidence that wins claims! 

Schedule your 20-minute consultation and learn how to get the supporting medical evidence you need to strengthen your claim.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions

Is vertigo a disability?

Yes. Vertigo is considered a VA disability when there is a current diagnosis, an in-service event or injury, and medical evidence linking the condition to your service. 

Is it difficult to get VA disability for vertigo?

It can be challenging, but many vertigo claims are approved when symptoms are well-documented and clearly linked to military service or a service-connected condition. Consistent medical records and a clear medical opinion are often the deciding factors. 

Can vertigo be rated separately from tinnitus?

Yes. Vertigo and tinnitus are evaluated under different diagnostic codes unless they are part of a single diagnosed condition, such as Meniere’s disease. 

How can you prove vertigo?

Vertigo is proven through a medical evaluation documenting your symptoms, triggers, and balance issues. Doctors may use physical exams, vestibular testing, eye movement analysis, and imaging studies when needed to identify the underlying cause. 

What is the average Vertigo VA rating?

The average VA rating for vertigo is typically 10% to 30%, depending on how often symptoms occur and whether balance issues are documented in medical records. 

What is the VA rating for vertigo secondary to migraines?

The VA rating for vertigo secondary to migraines depends on the severity of your symptoms but may range from 10% to 100%. 

What diagnostic code does the VA use for vertigo?

The VA most commonly rates vertigo under diagnostic code 6204 for peripheral vestibular disorders, unless a condition such as Meniere’s disease applies.