LOADING
Tinnitus and hearing loss are two of the most frequently service-connected conditions in the VA system. The military environment exposes service members to high levels of noise from weapons fire, explosions, aircraft engines, heavy machinery, and other sources that can damage hearing over time. Many veterans develop tinnitus, a persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears, as well as measurable hearing loss. While these conditions are closely related, the VA rates them under separate diagnostic codes with very different criteria.
Tinnitus is rated under Diagnostic Code 6260 at a flat maximum of 10%. This applies regardless of how severe your tinnitus is, whether it affects one ear or both, and whether it is constant or intermittent. The 10% cap has been a source of frustration for many veterans, particularly those whose tinnitus is severe enough to significantly affect concentration, sleep, and quality of life. While legislative efforts to increase the maximum tinnitus rating have been introduced over the years, as of 2026, the 10% maximum remains in place. That said, securing even a 10% rating for tinnitus establishes service connection, which can serve as the basis for secondary condition claims.
To establish service connection for tinnitus, the VA needs evidence of in-service noise exposure and a current diagnosis. For combat veterans, noise exposure is generally conceded based on the circumstances of service. For non-combat veterans, documenting your MOS, rating, AFSC, or other duty-specific designation and the associated noise exposure is important. The VA maintains a Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing that categorizes military occupations by their probability of noise exposure (highly probable, moderate, or low). Even if your specific occupation is listed as low probability, you can provide buddy statements and other evidence of actual noise exposure during service.
Hearing loss ratings are considerably more complex than tinnitus ratings. The VA does not rate hearing loss based on subjective symptoms or how well you feel you can hear. Instead, it uses objective audiological test results from a controlled VA audiology examination. Two measurements determine your rating: puretone audiometry thresholds and speech discrimination scores using the Maryland CNC (Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant) word recognition test. Private audiograms may not be accepted if they do not use the Maryland CNC test specifically.
The VA uses two tables to convert your test results into a rating. Table VI assigns a Roman numeral designation (I through XI) based on your puretone threshold average and speech discrimination percentage for each ear. The puretone threshold average is calculated by averaging the puretone thresholds at 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz. Table VII then takes the Roman numeral designations for both ears and cross-references them to produce a percentage rating. A higher Roman numeral indicates worse hearing. For example, if one ear is Level I and the other is Level I, the rating is 0%. If one ear is Level V and the other is Level V, the rating is 20%. The maximum rating for hearing loss is 100%, which requires severe impairment in both ears.
There is also an exceptional pattern of hearing loss provision under Table VIa. This table applies when puretone thresholds at each of the four frequencies (1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) are 55 decibels or more, or when the puretone threshold at 1000 Hz is 30 decibels or less and the threshold at 2000 Hz is 70 decibels or more. In these exceptional patterns, the VA uses the higher Roman numeral from either Table VI or Table VIa, which can result in a higher rating for veterans with certain patterns of hearing loss.
The VA audiology exam is different from a standard hearing test at your doctor's office. The examiner will conduct puretone audiometry testing in a sound-controlled booth, testing each ear separately at the four key frequencies. They will also administer the Maryland CNC speech discrimination test, which involves listening to recorded words and repeating them back. The examiner will also assess for tinnitus, asking about onset, pitch, loudness, frequency, and the impact on daily life. It is important to be honest during these tests. Do not exaggerate your hearing loss, but also do not strain to hear better than you naturally can.
Tinnitus and hearing loss are frequently claimed as secondary to each other. If you have service-connected hearing loss, you can claim tinnitus as secondary because the same noise exposure and cochlear damage that caused hearing loss commonly causes tinnitus. Conversely, if you have service-connected tinnitus, you can claim hearing loss as secondary. Medical literature strongly supports the connection between these two conditions, making secondary claims relatively straightforward when the evidence is properly presented.
Documenting your in-service noise exposure is essential for both conditions. Beyond your MOS or occupational specialty, consider all sources of noise exposure: weapons qualification, field artillery, flight line operations, motor pools, generator operations, shipboard machinery, construction equipment, and any exposure to explosions or blast events. Buddy statements from fellow service members who can attest to the noise levels you were exposed to are valuable supporting evidence.
Hearing protection, or the lack thereof, is also relevant. Many veterans, particularly those who served in earlier decades, were not provided adequate hearing protection or were in situations where wearing hearing protection was impractical. Documenting the hearing protection situation during your service helps establish why the noise exposure resulted in hearing damage.
Tinnitus, while limited to a 10% rating on its own, can serve as the foundation for secondary condition claims that significantly increase your overall rating. Research has linked tinnitus to sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, depression, and headaches. If your service-connected tinnitus has caused or aggravated any of these conditions, filing secondary claims supported by medical evidence can result in a substantially higher combined rating than the 10% tinnitus rating alone.
The ClaimRecon Rating Calculator helps you understand how tinnitus and hearing loss ratings combine with your other service-connected conditions to produce your overall combined rating. The C&P Exam Simulator walks you through what to expect during the audiology exam. The Health Logger allows you to document episodes of worsening tinnitus, situations where hearing loss impacts daily functioning, and other symptoms over time. Ask Intel AI can explain the hearing loss rating tables and help you understand how your audiometry results translate to a VA rating. The Secondary Condition Finder identifies conditions commonly linked to tinnitus and hearing loss, helping you build a comprehensive claim.
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. VA rating criteria are subject to change. Always consult with a VSO or VA-accredited attorney for case-specific guidance.
Written by ClaimRecon Editorial