United States · VA disability · 38 CFR 4.87
VA diagnostic code 6204: peripheral vestibular disorders.
Rating criteria for diagnostic code 6204, quoted from the regulation.
DC 6204 has two levels: 30 percent for dizziness and occasional staggering, and 10 percent for occasional dizziness. The code requires objective findings supporting vestibular disequilibrium before any compensable rating, and hearing impairment is rated separately.
The short version
DC 6204 has two levels: 30 percent for dizziness and occasional staggering, and 10 percent for occasional dizziness. The code requires objective findings supporting vestibular disequilibrium before any compensable rating, and hearing impairment is rated separately. The levels in the code are 10 and 30 percent.
DC 6204 rating criteria
Peripheral vestibular disorders
| Criteria (quoted from the regulation) | Rating |
|---|---|
| Dizziness and occasional staggering | 30% |
| Occasional dizziness | 10% |
Notes in the regulation
- 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.
How to read DC 6204
DC 6204 sits in the ear section of the schedule (38 CFR 4.87), and the same section lists Meniere’s syndrome (6205), whose note says to evaluate it either under its own criteria or by separately evaluating vertigo (as a peripheral vestibular disorder), hearing impairment, and tinnitus, whichever method results in a higher overall evaluation. DC 6204 itself is short: two symptom descriptions, two percentages.
The note carries as much weight as the table. A compensable rating (10 percent or more) requires objective findings that support the diagnosis of vestibular disequilibrium, and any hearing impairment or suppuration is rated separately and combined with the vestibular rating. That second point is why the hearing loss calculator on this site is a natural companion to this page.
The text uses the words occasional and dizziness without numeric thresholds. How those words are applied to a specific case is part of the rating decision.
What this page does not do
It does not diagnose, pick a diagnostic code, estimate your rating or advise on a claim. Every rating decision depends on the medical evidence and on VA’s application of the full schedule, including provisions this page does not reproduce.
Frequently asked questions
What are the rating levels for DC 6204?
Thirty percent for dizziness and occasional staggering, and 10 percent for occasional dizziness (38 CFR 4.87).
Is a rating possible without objective findings?
The note says objective findings supporting the diagnosis of vestibular disequilibrium are required before a compensable evaluation can be assigned under the code.
Is hearing loss included in the DC 6204 rating?
No. The note says hearing impairment or suppuration shall be separately rated and combined.
Is there a 0 percent level?
The code lists only 10 and 30 percent. Without objective findings, no compensable evaluation is assigned under this code.
How do separate ratings combine?
VA combines rather than adds them. See the combined rating calculator on this site.
Does this page say what rating I should get?
No. It reproduces the published criteria. VA decides the diagnosis and the rating, and this page is not medical or claim advice.
Sources
Read directly from the primary sources below on November 2, 2026 (eCFR text current through October 29, 2026). Quotations are the regulation text; anything labelled as a reading or calculation is TNAADO's. The schedule is amended from time to time, so check the linked section for the latest text.
Reference, not a VA determination, medical advice or claim advice
Rating criteria summarized from 38 CFR 4.87 as of October 29, 2026 (eCFR). This page reproduces published criteria so you can read them; it does not tell you whether you qualify, what your rating should be, or how to file. VA decides the diagnosis, the code and the rating. It is not legal, financial or medical advice; an accredited representative (VSO, attorney or claims agent) can review your case.