38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR §§ 4.85–4.87
Meniere's syndrome — VA Diagnostic Code 6205
Auditory / ENT
Diagnostic code
6205
38 CFR § 4.87 lists Diagnostic Code 6205 as “Meniere's syndrome (endolymphatic hydrops):”. The title ends with a colon and keeps the parenthetical. The rating cell on that title is empty. The lines are 100, 60, and 30. None of those cells ends with a period. The note says to evaluate under these criteria or by separately evaluating vertigo, hearing impairment, and tinnitus, whichever method results in a higher overall evaluation, and not to combine those evaluations with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Meniere's syndrome.” The index drops “(endolymphatic hydrops).”
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
6205 Meniere's syndrome (endolymphatic hydrops)
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly, with or without tinnitus
Rating %: 60
Criteria (verbatim). Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month, with or without tinnitus
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with or without tinnitus
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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 do not combine an evaluation for hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205.
The 100 and 60 percent lines say “attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait.” The 30 percent line says “with vertigo” and does not repeat “attacks” or “cerebellar gait.”
The 100 percent count is more than once weekly. The 60 percent count is from one to four times a month. The 30 percent count is less than once a month. Each line says “with or without tinnitus.”
The note says “diagnostic code 6205” in lowercase. It says not to combine an evaluation for hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under that code.
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 6205 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. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided. The same section says the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses are to be avoided.
The note names vertigo as a peripheral vestibular disorder. DC 6204 is “Peripheral vestibular disorders:”. Dizziness and occasional staggering is 30. Occasional dizziness is 10. Its note requires objective findings supporting the diagnosis of vestibular disequilibrium before a compensable evaluation can be assigned under that code, and it says hearing impairment or suppuration shall be separately rated and combined. That “combined” sentence is the DC 6204 note. The DC 6205 note says not to combine hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205.
Hearing impairment is DC 6100, under 38 CFR § 4.85. The § 4.85 XML for this date does not print the digits 6100. Recurrent tinnitus is DC 6260. DC 6260 Note (1) names diagnostic codes 6100, 6200, and 6204. It does not name 6205. The DC 6205 note is the sentence that names diagnostic code 6205 and says not to combine tinnitus with an evaluation under that code.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.87, Diagnostic Code 6205, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
Cerebellar gait is on the 100 and 60 lines
Those two cells say “attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait.” The 30 percent cell says “Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with or without tinnitus.” It does not say “cerebellar gait.”
The parenthetical stays on the rating title
The schedule title is “Meniere's syndrome (endolymphatic hydrops):”. Appendix B says “Meniere's syndrome.” and drops the parenthetical.
Do not combine
The note allows the DC 6205 criteria, or separate evaluations of vertigo, hearing impairment, and tinnitus, whichever method results in a higher overall evaluation. It then says not to combine an evaluation for hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205.
Evidence that speaks to each level
100
What the rater needs to see. Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly, with or without tinnitus.
Where that usually lives. The ear and vestibular examination, and the hearing examination § 4.85(a) describes.
60
What the rater needs to see. Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month, with or without tinnitus.
Where that usually lives. The same examinations, including the attack frequency the 60 percent line prints.
30
What the rater needs to see. Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with or without tinnitus.
Where that usually lives. The examination. This line does not require the words “cerebellar gait.”
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 6205 prints 100, 60, and 30, and the note that chooses one method and bars combining hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205. This page does not say the form replaces that note.
Related codes and how they interact
Peripheral vestibular disorders use a different note.
DC 6204 is 30 for dizziness and occasional staggering and 10 for occasional dizziness. Its note says hearing impairment or suppuration shall be separately rated and combined. The DC 6205 note uses “do not combine” for hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “Meniere.” It does not assign DC 6205.
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 Meniere's syndrome?
Under 38 CFR § 4.87, Diagnostic Code 6205 is 100, 60, or 30 for the hearing-impairment and vertigo findings each line prints. The note bars combining hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
What does the 30 percent line leave out?
It says “Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with or without tinnitus.” It does not say “attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait.” Those words are on the 100 and 60 percent lines.
FAQ
How does VA rate Meniere's syndrome under DC 6205?
The lines are 100, 60, and 30. The 100 and 60 lines require hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait, more than once weekly or from one to four times a month. The 30 line is hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month. Each line says “with or without tinnitus.” Education only.
Can hearing loss and tinnitus be combined with DC 6205?
The note says to use these criteria or to evaluate vertigo, hearing impairment, and tinnitus separately, whichever method results in a higher overall evaluation. It then says not to combine an evaluation for hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205.
Does Appendix B keep “endolymphatic hydrops”?
No. Appendix B says “Meniere's syndrome.” The rating title keeps “(endolymphatic hydrops):”.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 6205, which line it used, and whether it evaluated hearing, vertigo, or tinnitus separately.
- 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
- DC 6100Hearing loss
- DC 6200Chronic suppurative otitis media
- DC 6201Chronic nonsuppurative otitis media
- DC 6202Otosclerosis
- DC 6204Peripheral vestibular disorders
- DC 6207Loss of auricle
- DC 6208Malignant neoplasm
- DC 6209Benign neoplasm
- DC 6210Chronic otitis externa
- DC 6211Tympanic membrane, perforation
- DC 6260Tinnitus, recurrent
- DC 6275Smell, complete loss
- DC 6276Taste, complete loss
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6205 • 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.