Tinnitus is consistently the most claimed VA disability in the system — year after year, it leads the list by volume. Nearly every veteran who served in a military occupational specialty with noise exposure (infantry, artillery, aviation, armor, mechanics) has a tinnitus claim worth filing. At 10%, it adds $175.51/month in 2026 — not life-changing on its own, but it counts toward your combined rating and often unlocks the bilateral factor or secondary conditions that move you to a higher tier.
The 10% rating: why it’s the maximum for tinnitus
Tinnitus is rated under Diagnostic Code 6260, and the maximum rating is 10% — regardless of severity. VA’s position is that tinnitus, as a single symptom, has a fixed impact on occupational functioning. Bilateral tinnitus (both ears) does not rate higher than unilateral. This frustrates veterans with debilitating tinnitus, but the schedule is what it is. The value of the tinnitus claim is not the 10% alone — it’s what it enables in terms of combined rating thresholds and associated secondary conditions.
Hearing loss as a companion claim
If you have tinnitus from noise exposure, you almost certainly have some degree of hearing loss — and hearing loss is rated separately on a scale from 0% to 100% depending on severity. VA uses audiograms and word recognition scores to rate hearing. Many veterans file tinnitus without ever filing hearing loss. If you can demonstrate noise exposure in service and audiological impairment now, file both. They are separate ratings that combine through VA math.
Documenting the in-service nexus
For tinnitus, service connection is typically straightforward if your MOS or job description involved noise exposure. Artillery, infantry with weapons qualification, aviation maintenance, ship engine rooms, vehicle operators, and countless other MOSs create clear exposure records. Your service records and DD-214 are usually sufficient to establish the exposure. A personal statement describing when the ringing started and your noise exposure is helpful. You don’t need a special nexus letter for most tinnitus claims — exposure plus current diagnosis is the standard connection.
Tinnitus and mental health secondary claims
Severe tinnitus — constant, loud, interfering with sleep and concentration — can aggravate or cause anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Mental health conditions that develop secondary to a service-connected disability including tinnitus are ratable. If your tinnitus is significantly impacting your mental health, the secondary mental health claim is worth building. It requires a nexus letter from a treating mental health provider, but the rating potential at 30%, 50%, or 70% makes it worth pursuing.