38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR §§ 4.85–4.87

Chronic suppurative otitis media, mastoiditis, or cholesteatoma — VA Diagnostic Code 6200

Auditory / ENT

Diagnostic code

6200

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38 CFR § 4.87 lists Diagnostic Code 6200 as “Chronic suppurative otitis media, mastoiditis, or cholesteatoma (or any combination):”. The title ends with a colon. The rating cell on that title is empty. During suppuration, or with aural polyps, the rating is 10. The note says to evaluate hearing impairment, and complications such as labyrinthitis, tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, or bone loss of skull, separately. Appendix B to Part 4 shortens the name to “Chronic suppurative otitis media.” The catalog row cites §§ 4.85–4.87. The code is printed in § 4.87.

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.87 source note prints 64 FR 25210, May 11, 1999, as amended at 68 FR 25823, May 14, 2003. The § 4.85 source note prints 64 FR 25206, May 11, 1999.

The rating criteria at each level

6200 Chronic suppurative otitis media, mastoiditis, or cholesteatoma (or any combination)

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). During suppuration, or with aural polyps

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
10	During suppuration, or with aural polyps

Note: Evaluate hearing impairment, and complications such as labyrinthitis, tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, or bone loss of skull, separately.

The 10 percent cell does not end with a period. The note does.

The note lists labyrinthitis, tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, and bone loss of skull as examples. It does not assign a diagnostic code to any of those words.

38 CFR § 4.31 says that in every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. DC 6200 does not print a 0 percent line. 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just.

DC 6201 is “Chronic nonsuppurative otitis media with effusion (serous otitis media):”. Its only instruction is “Rate hearing impairment”. That cell does not end with a period, and it is not the DC 6200 line. DC 6211 is perforation of the tympanic membrane at 0. The DC 6200 row does not print that 0.

The DC 6200 note does not print the number 6100. Note (1) under DC 6260 says a separate evaluation for tinnitus may be combined with an evaluation under diagnostic codes 6100, 6200, 6204, or other diagnostic code, except when tinnitus supports an evaluation under one of those diagnostic codes. DC 6100 is the hearing-impairment page. 38 CFR § 4.85 is titled “Evaluation of hearing impairment.” The § 4.85 XML for this date does not print the digits 6100. Tables VI, VIa, and VII in § 4.85(h) are images. Paragraph (a) requires an examination by a state-licensed audiologist, a controlled speech discrimination test (Maryland CNC), and a puretone audiometry test, without hearing aids. Paragraph (g) says to refer to § 3.350 to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation due either to deafness, or to deafness in combination with other specified disabilities. Paragraph (g) does not state a payment amount. Recurrent tinnitus is DC 6260.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.87, Diagnostic Code 6200, and 38 CFR § 4.85, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

The index drops mastoiditis and cholesteatoma

Appendix B says “Chronic suppurative otitis media.” The rating table adds “, mastoiditis, or cholesteatoma (or any combination):”.

Suppuration or aural polyps

The only percentage on this code is 10, during suppuration, or with aural polyps. The cell does not end with a period.

Hearing impairment is a separate evaluation

The note says to evaluate hearing impairment separately. It does not print a diagnostic-code number. DC 6201 is the row that says “Rate hearing impairment”.

Evidence that speaks to each level

What the rater needs to see. Suppuration, or aural polyps, during the period the 10 percent line describes.

Where that usually lives. The ear examination.

A complication the note names

What the rater needs to see. Hearing impairment, or a complication such as labyrinthitis, tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, or bone loss of skull, only under the separate evaluation the note requires. The note does not assign those findings a code.

Where that usually lives. The examination for the separate condition. Hearing impairment uses the examination § 4.85(a) describes.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
10	Suppuration, or aural polyps, during the period the 10 percent line describes.	The ear examination.
A complication the note names	Hearing impairment, or a complication such as labyrinthitis, tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, or bone loss of skull, only under the separate evaluation the note requires. The note does not assign those findings a code.	The examination for the separate condition. Hearing impairment uses the examination § 4.85(a) describes.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Ear (including Vestibular and Infectious)” under Ear, Nose, Throat. The file is Ear (including Vestibular and Infectious).

The exam form

DC 6200 prints 10 during suppuration or with aural polyps, and the separate-evaluation note. This page does not say the form replaces that text.

Related codes and how they interact

Serous otitis media uses a different instruction.

DC 6201 says “Rate hearing impairment”. DC 6200 prints 10 and then tells the reader to evaluate hearing impairment separately. Those are not the same sentence. DC 6260 Note (1) is the tinnitus note that names diagnostic code 6200.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “otitis,” “mastoid,” or “cholesteatoma.” It does not assign DC 6200.

A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.

Short answers

What is the VA rating for chronic suppurative otitis media?

Under 38 CFR § 4.87, Diagnostic Code 6200 is 10 percent during suppuration, or with aural polyps. The note evaluates hearing impairment and the listed complications separately. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Where is the hearing-impairment evaluation?

Section 4.85 is titled “Evaluation of hearing impairment.” Its text for this date does not print the digits 6100. The percentage tables in paragraph (h) are images. The catalog page for hearing impairment is DC 6100.

FAQ

What percentage does DC 6200 print?

10, during suppuration, or with aural polyps. The title also names mastoiditis and cholesteatoma, or any combination. The row does not print another percentage. Education only.

Why is the index shorter than the rating title?

Appendix B says “Chronic suppurative otitis media.” The § 4.87 title adds mastoiditis, cholesteatoma, and the combination parenthesis, and it ends with a colon.

Does the note name DC 6100?

No. It says to evaluate hearing impairment, and complications such as labyrinthitis, tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, or bone loss of skull, separately. DC 6260 Note (1) is the sentence that names diagnostic codes 6100, 6200, and 6204.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6200 and for any separate hearing or complication code it used.
The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
Other ear codes are on the auditory diagnostic-code index. The category page is ear and hearing conditions.

Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.

Other codes in this body system

Nearby catalog entries in Auditory / ENT, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Auditory / ENT codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6200 • va.gov

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.