How the VA rates tinnitus
Tinnitus is rated under 38 CFR Part 4, diagnostic code 6260. The rating schedule has a single level: 10%. There is no 20%, 30%, or higher schedular rating for tinnitus, regardless of severity, frequency, or impact on daily life. Bilateral tinnitus (ringing in both ears) receives the same 10% as unilateral.
This flat rating has been challenged in courts and advocacy circles, but as of 2026 the schedule has not changed. Bills to raise the tinnitus rating have been introduced in Congress but not enacted.
Why 10% still matters: the bracket effect
A 10% tinnitus rating on its own pays $180.42 per month — modest, but it adds up over years. More importantly, it can push a veteran's combined rating into a higher bracket, which can be worth hundreds of dollars per month.
The practical takeaway: if your existing combined rating is anywhere from 55% to 64%, a tinnitus claim can push you to 70%, adding $373 per month. Use the calculator above to check where you land.
Tinnitus and hearing loss — claim both
Tinnitus and hearing loss are distinct conditions rated under separate diagnostic codes. Tinnitus is DC 6260; hearing loss is DC 6100. The pyramiding rule (38 CFR § 4.14) does not apply because they are different disabilities — ringing in the ears is not the same condition as reduced hearing acuity.
Veterans who served in high-noise environments (artillery, aircraft, vehicles, firearms training) commonly have both. Hearing loss ratings are based on puretone audiometric testing and speech recognition scores, and can range from 0% to 100%.
If you have been rated for tinnitus but not hearing loss, or vice versa, a supplemental claim for the missing condition is worth considering.
Establishing service connection for tinnitus
Three things are required to service-connect tinnitus:
- Current diagnosis — usually straightforward, established by a physician or audiologist
- In-service event — noise exposure during military service (combat, aircraft, machinery, weapons training)
- Nexus — a connection between the in-service event and the current diagnosis
For tinnitus, the nexus is often established through service records showing duty in a noisy MOS or unit, combined with a medical opinion. Private nexus letters from audiologists or ENT specialists are commonly used when the C&P exam was inadequate.
Tinnitus secondary to other conditions
Tinnitus can also be service-connected as secondary to head trauma, TBI, or medications used to treat service-connected conditions (ototoxic drugs). If your tinnitus developed after starting medication for a service-connected condition, secondary service connection may be available even without direct noise exposure in service.
Frequently asked questions
The VA rating schedule assigns a single 10% rating to tinnitus under DC 6260, regardless of severity. The schedule does not differentiate between mild intermittent ringing and constant debilitating noise. This is a known limitation of the current schedule and has been the subject of reform efforts, but the schedule has not changed as of 2026. Veterans with severe tinnitus that significantly impairs their ability to work may be able to pursue TDIU or other routes, but there is no higher schedular rating available for tinnitus alone.
No. Tinnitus receives a single 10% rating regardless of whether it affects one ear or both. This was confirmed in Fountain v. McDonald (2015) at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The single 10% rating covers the tinnitus condition as a whole.
Common reasons for tinnitus denials include: no documented in-service noise exposure, failure to establish nexus, or a C&P examiner opinion that the tinnitus is not service-related. Denials can be appealed through a Higher Level Review, a Supplemental Claim with new evidence (such as a private medical nexus opinion), or a Board appeal. A VA-accredited attorney can review the decision and identify the strongest route.
A VA tinnitus rating is separate from a Social Security disability claim. SSA uses different criteria and does not automatically accept VA ratings. However, VA medical records documenting tinnitus can be submitted as evidence in an SSA claim, especially when combined with other impairments that collectively affect work capacity.