VA Tinnitus Claim Guide
Step-by-step guide to filing a VA tinnitus claim — the evidence that works, what happens at the C&P exam, why the rating caps at 10%, and the secondary conditions worth pursuing alongside it.
Tinnitus is rated at a single 10% level under diagnostic code 6260, regardless of severity. Service connection requires a current diagnosis (subjective reporting is sufficient), evidence of noise exposure during service, and a medical opinion linking the two.
Tinnitus is the single most-claimed VA condition, year after year — which makes sense given how much military service exposes veterans to sustained loud noise. It maxes out at a flat 10% rating regardless of severity, but it's genuinely valuable beyond that number because it opens the door to related secondary claims — hearing loss, migraines, anxiety — that can add up to considerably more.
Proving Service Connection
You need a current diagnosis, evidence of an in-service event or onset, and a medical nexus tying the two. Many veterans miss the third piece.
How It's Rated
Rating Levels
- 10% — recurrent tinnitus (the only level under DC 6260 — no higher schedular rating exists for this condition alone)
Evidence That Helps
- MOS or duty assignment documentation showing exposure to loud noise (artillery, aircraft, machinery, gunfire)
- A lay statement describing when the ringing began and that it's been continuous since
- Audiology records from service or shortly after separation, if available
- A buddy letter from someone who served alongside you and can corroborate the noise exposure or early symptoms
Since tinnitus caps at 10%, want to see what secondary conditions could add more?
Check Related Secondary ConditionsRelated Secondary Conditions
- Hearing loss
- Migraines
- Anxiety and depression
- Sleep disturbance
Why the Rating Caps at 10% No Matter What
Diagnostic code 6260 is written as a single-level rating — there's no 30% or 50% version even for tinnitus that's genuinely debilitating and constant. This is exactly why the secondary conditions matter so much: rather than trying to argue for a higher tinnitus rating that doesn't exist, the better strategy is pursuing the conditions tinnitus actually causes or worsens.
Tinnitus Is Subjective — And That's Fine
Unlike most conditions, tinnitus doesn't require objective testing to establish the diagnosis itself — your own consistent, credible report of ringing, buzzing, or hissing is generally sufficient. The audiology exam at your C&P appointment focuses more on hearing loss and noise exposure history than on 'proving' the tinnitus exists.
Frequently asked questions
Conclusion
If you have a current diagnosis and an in-service link, a tinnitus claim is worth filing. Educational only. Not legal advice.
Since tinnitus caps at 10%, want to see what secondary conditions could add more?
Check Related Secondary Conditions