**§4.87 Schedule of ratings---ear.**

**[Diseases of the Ear]{.smallcaps}**

Rating

**6200** Chronic suppurative otitis media, mastoiditis, or cholesteatoma

(or any combination):

During suppuration, or with aural polyps 10

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

**6201** Chronic nonsuppurative otitis media with effusion (serous
otitis media):

Rate hearing impairment

**6202** Otosclerosis:

Rate hearing impairment

**6204** Peripheral vestibular disorders:

Dizziness and occasional staggering 30

Occasional dizziness 10

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.

**6205** Meniere's syndrome (endolymphatic hydrops):

Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait

occurring more than once weekly, with or without tinnitus 100

Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait

occurring from one to four times a month, with or without tinnitus 60

Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with or

without tinnitus 30

> 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.

**6207** Loss of auricle:

Complete loss of both 50

Complete loss of one 30

Deformity of one, with loss of one-third or more of the substance 10

**6208** Malignant neoplasm of the ear (other than skin only) 100

Note: A rating of 100 percent shall continue beyond the cessation of any
surgical, radiation treatment, antineoplastic chemotherapy or other
therapeutic procedure. Six months after discontinuance of such
treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by
mandatory VA examination. Any change in evaluation based on that or any
subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of §3.105(e)
of this chapter. If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis,
rate on residuals.

**6209** Benign neoplasms of the ear (other than skin only):

Rate on impairment of function.

**6210** Chronic otitis externa:

Swelling, dry and scaly or serous discharge, and itching

requiring frequent and prolonged treatment 10

**6211** Tympanic membrane, perforation of 0

**6260** Tinnitus, recurrent 10

**Note (1):** 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.

**Note (2):** Assign only a single evaluation for recurrent tinnitus,
whether the sound is perceived in one ear, both ears, or in the head.

**Note (3):** Do not evaluate objective tinnitus (in which the sound is
audible to other people and has a definable cause that may or may not be
pathologic) under this diagnostic code, but evaluate it as part of any
underlying condition causing it.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1155).

\[29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 64 FR 25209, May 11, 1999; 68
FR 25823, May 14, 2003\]

**Supplement *Highlights* references**: 25(1), 32(1).

*Next Section is §4.87a*