VA Disability for Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

The most common VA claims

Tinnitus and hearing loss consistently rank among the most claimed service-connected conditions in the VA system. Nearly every military job carries some noise exposure, from combat arms and aviation to motor pools and flight lines. Hearing protection was not always available or consistently used, and the damage is often permanent and progressive.

Because these conditions are so common, the VA has well-defined criteria for rating them, but that does not mean claims are automatically granted. Establishing service connection and getting an accurate rating still requires the right evidence.

Tinnitus: the flat 10 percent rating

Tinnitus is the perception of ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking in the ears without an external source. Under Diagnostic Code 6260, tinnitus is rated at a single, flat 10 percent, no matter how severe it is or whether it affects one ear or both.

That means:

• There is no 20 or 30 percent rating for tinnitus alone.
• Recurrent tinnitus is compensated at 10 percent, period.
• You cannot get separate 10 percent ratings for each ear.

While 10 percent may seem modest, tinnitus often accompanies other conditions and adds to your combined rating. And because tinnitus is largely based on your credible report of symptoms, a consistent history in your records and a clear statement of onset are important.

How the VA rates hearing loss

Hearing loss is rated very differently from tinnitus. It is based on objective testing, and the ratings range from 0 percent up to 100 percent in severe cases. Two measurements drive the rating:

• Maryland CNC speech recognition test. A controlled word-recognition test that measures the percentage of words you understand.
• Puretone audiometry. Measures the quietest sounds you can hear at 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz, averaged for each ear.

These two results are plugged into Table VI to assign a Roman numeral (I through XI) for each ear, and then into Table VII to determine the overall percentage. When there is an exceptional pattern of hearing loss, Table VIA (puretone average alone) may be used instead, which can help veterans whose speech recognition scores do not fully reflect their disability.

Because the rating is formula-driven, the accuracy of your audiogram is everything. The testing must be done by a state-licensed audiologist using the Maryland CNC test to be valid for VA rating purposes.

Proving noise exposure and service connection

To be service-connected, your hearing loss or tinnitus generally must be linked to in-service noise exposure or another in-service cause. Helpful evidence includes:

• Your military occupational specialty (MOS) and its known noise exposure level. The VA maintains a Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing that categorizes jobs by probability of hazardous noise.
• Combat records, deployment history, or documented incidents involving explosions or gunfire.
• Lay statements describing when the ringing or hearing trouble started and how it has progressed.
• Any in-service or separation audiograms showing a shift in hearing thresholds.

Even if your hearing loss was not diagnosed until after service, you may still be service-connected if the evidence links it to in-service noise. Delayed-onset hearing loss is medically recognized.

Secondary conditions and combining ratings

Hearing conditions can be connected to other disabilities in both directions:

• Tinnitus secondary to hearing loss. These conditions frequently occur together and share a common cause.
• Conditions secondary to medication. Some medications for service-connected conditions are ototoxic and can damage hearing.
• Mental health effects. Chronic tinnitus can contribute to sleep problems, anxiety, or depression, which may be separately claimed.

Even a 10 percent tinnitus rating and a low hearing loss rating add to your total picture. Use our VA disability calculator to see how they combine with your other conditions. If your hearing rating seems too low, you can file to increase your rating, or if you were denied, review your options for a denied VA claim.

Frequently Asked Questions