Guides
VA Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Claims
Many veterans develop ringing in the ears or reduced hearing after exposure to noise during service. The VA rates tinnitus at a maximum of 10 percent.
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What is tinnitus for VA disability purposes?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound’such as ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking’when no external source is present. It can be constant or intermittent and may affect one ear or both. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes tinnitus as a service-connectable disability when the evidence shows it was caused or aggravated by military service.
Service connection for any condition, including tinnitus, generally requires four elements: a current disability (or competent evidence of symptoms), an event, injury, or disease in service, a medical nexus linking the current condition to that in-service event, and a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable. Compensation for service-connected disabilities is tax-free monthly pay (38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131).
Noise exposure is one of the most common in-service events cited in tinnitus claims. This can include combat operations, weapons training, aircraft or vehicle maintenance, shipboard machinery, or other duties involving loud noise over time. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms or testing.
How does the VA rate tinnitus and hearing loss?
The maximum schedular rating for tinnitus is 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260. This single 10 percent rating covers tinnitus whether it affects one ear or both ears. There is no higher schedular rating available specifically for tinnitus. The rating is assigned based on the presence of the condition when service connection is granted; the VA does not rate the severity of the ringing beyond that maximum.
Hearing loss is evaluated separately. The VA relies on audiometric testing that measures pure-tone thresholds at specified frequencies and speech discrimination scores. Those results are applied to the rating tables in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities to determine the percentage. A veteran may receive a rating for hearing loss in addition to the 10 percent for tinnitus if the medical evidence supports both conditions.
When a veteran has multiple service-connected conditions, the VA combines the individual ratings using the “whole person” method set out in 38 C.F.R. § 4.25. Ratings are not simply added together. For example, a 10 percent tinnitus rating combined with a 30 percent rating for another condition is not 40 percent; the formula yields a lower combined value that is then rounded to the nearest 10 percent. Bilateral factors under § 4.26 may also apply in certain paired extremity cases. The VA decides the final combined rating; no particular outcome is guaranteed.
What evidence is needed for a tinnitus claim?
Strong claims typically include current medical evidence of tinnitus or hearing loss, service records that document noise exposure or an acoustic trauma, and a medical opinion that connects the current condition to the in-service exposure. Lay statements from the veteran describing the onset and continuity of symptoms can also be helpful, especially when the condition was not formally diagnosed during service.
An audiogram performed by a qualified examiner provides objective data for hearing loss. For tinnitus, the diagnosis is often based on the veteran’s reported symptoms and a clinician’s evaluation, because tinnitus is a subjective condition. If VA treatment records are incomplete, a private examination and nexus opinion can fill gaps.
The VA weighs all evidence of record when deciding the claim. A denial may occur if the examiner finds no current disability, no in-service event, or no nexus. Common issues include lack of documented noise exposure or an examiner’s opinion that the condition is more likely due to other causes. Secondary service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.310 is possible if tinnitus is caused or aggravated by another service-connected condition.
What can I do if my tinnitus claim is denied or under-rated?
Decisions issued on or after February 19, 2019, fall under the Appeals Modernization Act. Available options include a Higher-Level Review by a more senior adjudicator, a Supplemental Claim that introduces new and relevant evidence, or an appeal to the Board of Veterans” Appeals (with choices of Direct Review, Evidence Submission, or a hearing).
Filing within one year of the decision letter generally allows continuous pursuit that preserves the effective date of the original claim (38 C.F.R. § 3.2500(h)). Missing the one-year window can result in a later effective date. After a final Board denial, a veteran may appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims within 120 days (38 U.S.C. § 7266). Board pending-age averages (not a promise) are about 7 months for Direct Review, 8 months for Evidence Submission, and 2.4 years for Hearing (BVA, 2026).
Accredited attorneys and claims agents may not charge a fee for work performed before the VA issues its initial decision on a claim (38 U.S.C. § 5904(c)(1)). Once the initial decision is issued, fees are usually contingent on the recovery of past-due benefits. Veterans Service Organizations provide free assistance and do not charge fees. Check accreditation at https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp.
Where can I get free help or take next steps?
Free help is available from accredited Veterans Service Organizations. You can verify a representative’s accreditation on the VA Office of General Counsel website at https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp and search for a representative at https://www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/.
If you would like Milberg, PLLC to review your situation, you may submit a request through this site. VA Disability Help is a marketing service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice or representation. Milberg, PLLC does not operate this website. Submitting a request does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, or any government agency. Photos are illustrations, not actual clients.
Talk with your doctor about any hearing or tinnitus symptoms and about appropriate medical care. This page provides general information only. Effective date rules generally use the later of claim receipt or entitlement (38 C.F.R. § 3.400).
Frequently asked questions
Is the maximum rating for tinnitus 10 percent?
Can I receive ratings for both tinnitus and hearing loss?
What counts as in-service noise exposure?
How long do I have to request review of a denial?
Does a tinnitus claim require a specific medical test?
Are VA disability payments for tinnitus tax-free?
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