Getting Veterans (VA) Disability for Tinnitus

As of 2026, tinnitus is the most common service-connected disability compensated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Veterans suffering from tinnitus or other hearing-related conditions may be eligible to receive monthly disability compensation. However, to receive veterans (VA) disability for tinnitus, you must establish a nexus between your condition and an injury, illness, or event that occurred during your military service.

Proving service connection and receiving the correct disability rating is easier said than done, and many deserving veterans receive denials. VA gives you the option to appeal its decision, but appealing your denial often presents even more difficulty than the initial application. That’s where the experienced veterans law attorneys and advocates at CCK Law may be able to help.

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is usually not a permanent condition. Nonetheless, it can be very irritating and distracting. In addition to noise exposure, tinnitus can also be caused by blockages, infections, Meniere’s disease, and a host of other conditions, including injuries to the neck and head.

Symptoms include:

• Ringing
• Buzzing
• Hissing
• Clicking
• Whistling

Why Is Tinnitus Prevalent Among Veterans?

Symptoms of tinnitus can be more pronounced at night when one is lying down to sleep simply because it is quieter. For veterans on active duty, however, quiet may not be something experienced very often. For this reason, a veteran may not even notice tinnitus symptoms until after service.

As a result, tinnitus and hearing loss are common conditions veterans suffer from. For the civilian who has suffered blockage or an infection – or perhaps a few hours of loud noise – it’s entirely possible that tinnitus can be turned around due to time and healing or therapy.

Service members are exposed to loud noise on a regular basis, and tinnitus can lead to other medical issues such as fatigue from lack of sleep, anxiety, irritation, and more. Men over the age of 65 are most prone, and while there are some white-noise devices and other machines that are meant to overcome the condition more naturally, medication can also be prescribed.

“Because tinnitus has many causes, many of which are outside the audiology scope of practice, the approach to tinnitus should be interdisciplinary,” explained Dr. Paula Myers, audiology section chief at the Tampa VA hospital, shared in recent information from VA. “Some of these services are performed by audiologists and some are referred to appropriate professionals. The goal is not to silence tinnitus, because there is no cure. Rather, the goal is for patients to learn to self-manage their reactions to the tinnitus.”

Tinnitus – The Most Common Veterans Disability Claim

Tinnitus is the most commonly claimed disability for VA compensation, but it is rarely given a rating of more than 10 percent. The current consensus is that a lot can be done to relieve tinnitus in terms of the symptoms, despite the damage that may have been done.

Under 38 CFR § 4.87, tinnitus is rated using Diagnostic Code 6260, which offers the following potential rating:

• 10 percent — If tinnitus is recurrent

Veterans should note that VA will typically only provide a single evaluation for recurrent tinnitus, regardless of severity or whether the sound is perceived in one ear, both ears, or the head.

Additionally, when applying for disability for tinnitus, veterans generally only need to give their statement of the condition along with connection to exposure to noise in service. There may be the request for a diagnosis of the condition as well.

Are the Tinnitus Rating Criteria Going To Change Soon?

Yes, it is possible the rating criteria for tinnitus will change soon.

In February 2022, VA proposed changes to the rating criteria for tinnitus, among other disabilities. Under these proposed changes, tinnitus would be eliminated as a standalone disability rating. Instead, veterans could only earn tinnitus VA ratings if the condition is proven to be connected to noncompensable hearing loss or another service-connected disability.

VA has acknowledged that a change like this would likely lead to a reduction in the number of veterans who qualify for a tinnitus disability rating of 10 percent or more.

As of March 2026, VA has not finalized these proposed changes nor given a date on when they might be implemented, though it is expected to be within the next few years.

Veterans should also note that those who already have tinnitus disability ratings will not have those ratings affected by these changes. Essentially, their ratings will be grandfathered in under the new regulations.

Watch CCK Law Partners Maura Black and Emma Peterson and VA-Accredited Claims Advocate Nicholas Briggs explain VA claims for hearing loss and tinnitus:

What Is Service Connection?

In many cases, veterans receive denials because they did not provide enough evidence to successfully establish service connection. While your entire case hinges on this, service connection simply means your tinnitus resulted from an in-service event, injury, or illness.

How Can I Establish Service Connection for Tinnitus?

To establish service connection for tinnitus, the veteran must prove there is a connection between their diagnosis and an injury, illness, or event that occurred during service.

The following types of evidence can be valuable when appealing your tinnitus claim denial:

• Your service records (these may show or support regular and/or prolonged noise exposure during training exercises or in combat)
• Your medical records (this can establish that you did not have hearing-related issues prior to military service)
• Lay evidence or buddy statements
• Statements from your doctors (doctors can establish when you began complaining of ringing in your ears and what treatment you have undergone)
• An expert’s medical opinion (a medical expert can opine as to the cause of your tinnitus)

What Is the VA Monthly Compensation for Tinnitus?

The standard rating for recurrent tinnitus is 10 percent. This rating applies whether your condition affects both or just one ear. According to the 2026 compensation rates, a 10 percent rating as a result of tinnitus or another condition would result in a monthly compensation benefit of $180.42.

If your tinnitus causes other disabilities, such as depression or anxiety, you may be entitled to compensation for those conditions as well, on the basis of secondary service connection.

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