Peripheral Vestibular Disorder (Vertigo) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6204 of 38 CFR § 4.87, DC 6204 across 2 severity tiers (10% / 30%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
Inner-ear or vestibular-nerve dysfunction causing vertigo (spinning sensation), imbalance, and gait instability. Common etiologies in veterans: blast/concussion-related labyrinthine concussion, ototoxic medications (gentamicin), Meniere's disease (DC 6205 separate), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis. Often comorbid with tinnitus + hearing loss in TBI patients.
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.87 (Ear). Source verified 2026-05-17 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.