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What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the perception of ringing, buzzing, hissing, or other sounds in one or both ears when no external sound source is present. It is one of the most commonly claimed VA disabilities and affects hundreds of thousands of veterans. Tinnitus can be constant or intermittent and ranges from a minor annoyance to a debilitating condition that interferes with sleep, concentration, and daily life.

The VA rates tinnitus under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260, found in 38 CFR 4.87 — the Schedule of Ratings for the Ear.

VA Rating Criteria for Tinnitus (DC 6260)

Unlike most VA conditions, tinnitus has a statutory maximum rating of 10%. The VA does not rate tinnitus higher than 10%, regardless of severity, whether it affects one ear or both, or how much it impacts your life.

Important: A 2003 precedential decision by the Federal Circuit (Smith v. Nicholson) confirmed that tinnitus is limited to a single 10% evaluation regardless of whether it is perceived in one ear, both ears, or in the head.

Common Service Connections for Tinnitus

Tinnitus is strongly associated with noise exposure during military service. Common in-service noise exposure sources include:

• Weapons fire — rifles, pistols, machine guns, artillery, explosives
• Military vehicles — tanks, APCs, Humvees, helicopters
• Flight line operations — jet engines, aircraft maintenance, flight deck duties
• Engine rooms — Navy and Coast Guard shipboard engineering spaces
• Construction and demolition — combat engineers, SeaBees
• Communications equipment — prolonged headset use in radio operations

The VA maintains a Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing that correlates your military occupational specialty with the probability of hazardous noise exposure. If your MOS is listed as "Highly Probable," service connection for tinnitus is much easier to establish.

Evidence Needed for a Tinnitus Claim

• Service treatment records (STRs) — any documentation of noise exposure, hearing complaints, or audiograms during service
• Audiogram — a current audiogram helps establish hearing damage, though it is not strictly required for tinnitus
• Lay statements — your personal statement describing when tinnitus began, what it sounds like, how often it occurs, and how it affects your daily life
• Buddy letters — statements from fellow service members who can confirm your noise exposure or your complaints about ringing in your ears
• Post-service medical records — any treatment records mentioning tinnitus complaints
• Nexus letter — a medical opinion linking your tinnitus to your military noise exposure (especially helpful if STRs are silent)

What to Expect at the C&P Exam

The Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam for tinnitus is typically conducted by an audiologist. During the exam:

• You will undergo a puretone audiometric test and speech recognition test
• The examiner will ask when you first noticed the ringing
• You will be asked to describe the sound (ringing, buzzing, hissing, roaring)
• The examiner will ask about frequency — is it constant or intermittent?
• You will be asked about your noise exposure history during and after service
• The examiner will provide a medical opinion on whether tinnitus is "at least as likely as not" related to service

Tip: Be specific and consistent. Describe your worst days. If tinnitus is constant, say so clearly. If it began during or shortly after service, make that timeline clear.

Secondary Conditions to Tinnitus

While tinnitus itself is capped at 10%, it can serve as a basis for secondary service connection claims that increase your overall combined rating:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Claiming bilateral tinnitus as two conditions — the VA only assigns one 10% rating regardless of laterality
• Not mentioning tinnitus at C&P exam — if you are there for hearing loss, make sure you also report tinnitus
• Inconsistent onset timeline — if you tell the examiner it started 10 years after service but your claim says it started during service, that creates credibility issues
• Forgetting secondary conditions — the 10% cap on tinnitus makes secondary claims critical for maximizing your overall rating
• Not filing at all because "it's only 10%" — that 10% can push your combined rating to a higher threshold, unlocking significant monthly compensation increases

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get more than 10% for tinnitus?

No. The VA's rating schedule caps tinnitus at 10% under DC 6260. However, you can claim secondary conditions caused by tinnitus (anxiety, insomnia, hearing loss) to increase your combined rating.

Do I need an audiogram to claim tinnitus?

Not strictly, but an audiogram helps. Tinnitus is a subjective condition — the VA relies heavily on your lay statement and the examiner's opinion. An audiogram showing hearing loss strengthens the claim.

What if my STRs don't mention tinnitus?

Many veterans did not report tinnitus during service. A strong lay statement describing noise exposure and onset, combined with a nexus letter, can overcome the lack of STR documentation.

Is tinnitus a presumptive condition?

Not directly, but combat veterans can invoke 38 USC 1154(b), which relaxes the evidence standard for conditions consistent with combat service. If your MOS involved hazardous noise exposure, the VA must give you the benefit of the doubt.

Can tinnitus be secondary to another condition?

Yes. Tinnitus can be secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI), Meniere's disease, ear infections, or medications (ototoxic drugs). If you have a service-connected primary condition that caused tinnitus, you can file on a secondary basis.

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