- Diagnostic Code
- 6205
- CFR Section
- §4.87 — Ear
Rating Tiers
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
What Raters Look For
Based on M21-1 adjudication criteria for Ear conditions. These are the factors a VA rater evaluates when assigning a rating percentage.
M21-1 III.iv.4.J- •Audiogram results: pure-tone average thresholds (500, 1000, 2000, 3000 Hz) for each ear
- •Speech recognition (discrimination) score percentage for each ear
- •Tinnitus — whether documented as a separate diagnosis and its impact on sleep and concentration
- •Hearing aid use and whether aids are worn in one or both ears
- •Impact on speech communication, occupational function, and daily life
- •Other ear conditions: otitis media, cholesteatoma, labyrinthine dysfunction, vertigo
NoteHearing loss and tinnitus are rated separately under different diagnostic codes. Tinnitus (DC 6260) is rated at a single 10% regardless of severity.