A tinnitus VA claim asks VA to connect the ringing, buzzing or roaring in your ears to your military service. VA rates recurrent tinnitus at 10 percent, with one rating whether you hear it in one ear, both ears or in your head. To prove it, you need to show a current condition, an event in service such as loud noise, and a link between the two.
VA says tinnitus is the most common service-connected disability among Veterans, and the most frequently approved new disability. So why do some claims still get denied? This guide covers the gaps that tend to cause problems and how to close them.
Key takeaways
- Recurrent tinnitus is rated 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260. That is the only rating level, and you get one rating no matter which ear.
- Tinnitus is a sound only you can hear, so your own detailed account carries real weight.
- A tinnitus claim is strongest with three things: your noise exposure in service, a clear timeline of when it started and that it continued, and a medical opinion linking it to service.
- Published Board decisions show denials can involve a missing start date, little proof of noise exposure, or a negative exam opinion that rests only on missing records.
- Buddy statements and a nexus letter can strengthen a claim.
How does VA rate a tinnitus VA claim?
VA rates tinnitus under Diagnostic Code 6260 in 38 CFR 4.87. The rule has three notes worth knowing:
- Only one evaluation is assigned for recurrent tinnitus, whether the sound is in one ear, both ears or the head.
- A separate tinnitus rating can be combined with a hearing loss rating, except when tinnitus is what supports a rating under another code.
- Objective tinnitus, meaning a sound others can also hear that has a definable cause, is not rated under this code. It is evaluated as part of the underlying condition.
A 10 percent rating adds to your combined rating. VA calculates that total with a combined ratings table, not by simply adding percentages together.
What do you need to prove?
Like most claims, a tinnitus claim rests on three parts. The table shows what VA looks for and what can help.
| What VA looks for | What can help |
|---|---|
| You have tinnitus now | Your own detailed statement (what it sounds like, how often, when it started), notes from a doctor or audiologist, and hearing test records. |
| Something happened in service | Your job title, a list of noise sources (weapons, aircraft, engines, generators, blasts), service records and buddy statements from people who were there. |
| The two are linked | A medical opinion explaining the link, plus your account that the ringing began in service and has continued since. |
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders describes tinnitus as the perception of sound that does not have an external source. It is often linked to noise exposure and hearing loss, but also to medicines, earwax, ear infections and head or neck injuries. Seeing a doctor or audiologist can help rule out other causes and gets your symptoms on record.
In published Board decisions, the Board has found Veterans competent to report symptoms they can observe, such as ringing in the ears, and has weighed those reports along with the rest of the record. That is why a detailed, consistent statement from you is one of the most useful pieces of evidence.
Why do tinnitus claims get denied?
These are patterns seen in published Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions. They are individual cases, not promises about yours.
- No clear start date or no sign it continued. VA's rules let a pattern of symptoms since service support service connection for chronic conditions (38 CFR 3.303(b)). In Board decisions, tinnitus has been treated that way, so a consistent timeline matters.
- Noise exposure is not shown. The Board has accepted noise exposure based on a Veteran's military job. If your job was not obviously loud, describe the specific events: range days, the flight line, engines, a blast.
- A negative VA exam opinion built on records alone. In one decision, the Board gave a negative opinion little weight because the examiner relied on a lack of in-service documentation and set aside the Veteran's own account. In another, two examiners described the symptoms as brief ear noise common in the general population, and the Board found that unpersuasive given the Veteran's reports of continuous symptoms.
- Noise after service. Examiners sometimes point to loud jobs or other noise after service. Mention them honestly and explain why your in-service noise still matters.
The Board granted service connection in both of those cases. Results depend on the evidence in each file, so build yours carefully.
How can you build a stronger tinnitus claim?
- Write your timeline. When did you first notice the ringing? What were you doing? Is it constant or does it come and go? Keep the story consistent on every form and at your exam.
- List your noise sources. Include your job, the equipment and any events, and note what hearing protection you had.
- Be upfront about later noise. If you worked around loud machines after service, say so and explain how they compare.
- See a provider. Ask a doctor or audiologist to document your tinnitus. The NIDCD suggests starting with your primary care doctor.
- Ask for buddy statements. People who served with you can describe the noise and what they noticed. See our guide to a buddy statement for a VA claim.
- Consider a medical opinion. A provider who has reviewed your history can explain the link. Our post on the VA nexus letter covers what it should include.
- Prepare for the exam. If VA schedules one, describe your tinnitus the way you live with it, including how often it happens and what it affects, such as sleep or concentration.
Here is a short example of how a personal statement might read. It is only a template with placeholders, so use your own facts.
Example: I served in the [branch] as a [job title] from [year] to [year]. My duties kept me near [noise source, such as weapons fire or aircraft engines], and I [did not have / had limited] hearing protection. I first noticed ringing in my ears in [month and year] after [event]. It [comes and goes / has been constant] and has continued since then. It is worse when [situation]. [Your name], [date]
Tinnitus and hearing loss: do you claim both?
They are separate conditions with separate ratings, and many Veterans have both. VA treats hearing loss as a disability under 38 CFR 3.385 when a hearing test shows any one of these:
- A threshold of 40 decibels or greater at any one of 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 or 4000 Hz.
- Thresholds of 26 decibels or greater at three or more of those frequencies.
- A Maryland CNC speech recognition score below 94 percent.
If another service-connected condition caused or worsened your tinnitus, a secondary claim may fit (38 CFR 3.310). A provider's opinion matters there too.
Not sure how to organize your noise history and evidence? SustainBL's VA claims support can help you sort it before you file.
Frequently asked questions
What is the VA rating for tinnitus?
Recurrent tinnitus is rated 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260, which is the only rating level for that code. VA assigns one evaluation whether you hear it in one ear, both ears or in your head.
Can tinnitus be rated higher than 10 percent?
Not under Diagnostic Code 6260. If tinnitus is part of another condition, such as Meniere's syndrome, it is rated under that condition's own criteria. An accredited representative can tell you whether that applies to you.
Do I need a doctor's diagnosis to file a tinnitus VA claim?
Not necessarily to get started. Board decisions have treated a Veteran's own report of ringing in the ears as competent evidence of tinnitus. A medical opinion that links it to service often matters just as much, so it is worth asking your provider.
Do I need hearing loss to claim tinnitus?
No. VA rates tinnitus on its own, separate from hearing loss, and many Veterans have both. Hearing loss has its own test thresholds in 38 CFR 3.385.
What if my hearing test at separation was normal?
That does not automatically end a claim. In published Board decisions, opinions that relied mainly on missing in-service records have been given little weight, but every case is different. A clear account of when the ringing started helps.
Start the free VA claim questionnaire
Want a clear next step for your tinnitus claim? Answer a few simple questions and see what your evidence could look like. Start the free VA claim questionnaire whenever you are ready.
This article is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice. SustainBL is not a law firm and does not guarantee any VA decision.
