VA Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Ratings: What 38 CFR Says and How to Claim Both

Tinnitus and hearing loss are the two most commonly claimed VA disabilities in the country. Millions of veterans have them. Yet a large number of those veterans are either rated too low, denied outright, or never file for hearing loss at all because they think the ringing in their ears is the only thing that counts. That is a costly mistake.

This post breaks down exactly how the VA rates tinnitus and hearing loss, what the regulations say, and what you need to do to file both claims correctly.

Tinnitus: The Flat-Rate Condition Under DC 6260

Tinnitus is rated under Diagnostic Code 6260 in 38 CFR Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, specifically under the ear conditions table at 38 CFR § 4.87. The VA assigns a single, flat 10 percent rating for tinnitus—regardless of severity, frequency, or how badly it affects your sleep, concentration, or daily function. There is no 0 percent, no 20 percent, no higher rating under this code. It is 10 percent or nothing.

To establish service connection for tinnitus, you need three things: a current diagnosis, an in-service event or noise exposure, and a nexus connecting the two. The nexus is often the sticking point. Your military occupational specialty or Air Force Specialty Code does not speak for itself. You need a medical opinion linking your current tinnitus to documented in-service noise exposure. A private audiologist or physician can provide this if the VA's own examiner gives you a weak or negative opinion.

Hearing Loss: A Different Animal Under DC 6100

Hearing loss is rated under Diagnostic Code 6100, also found in 38 CFR § 4.87. Unlike tinnitus, hearing loss ratings are not flat—they are calculated using a specific VA formula based on the results of a puretone audiometric test and a speech recognition (Maryland CNC) test.

The VA uses Table VI in 38 CFR § 4.85 to convert your puretone threshold average into a Roman numeral value (I through XI) for each ear. Your speech recognition score is also converted to a Roman numeral using Table VII. The VA then plots both values on a combined table to arrive at a percentage rating for each ear, and those are combined into a final bilateral rating. Ratings can range from 0 percent to 100 percent depending on severity.

One critical point: the VA requires a specific type of audiological examination. The C&P exam for hearing loss must include both the puretone audiometry and the Maryland CNC speech discrimination test, conducted by a licensed audiologist in a sound-controlled environment. If your exam did not include both, that is a basis for challenging the adequacy of the examination under 38 CFR § 3.159(c)(4).

File Both Claims Together

These two conditions almost always go hand in hand. If you have tinnitus from noise exposure, there is a strong chance you also have measurable hearing loss. File both claims at the same time. The VA will schedule a single audiology C&P exam that covers both conditions.

If you already have a tinnitus rating but never filed for hearing loss, file a new claim now. Your effective date will go back to the date the VA receives your new claim. Also consider whether your hearing loss is secondary to another service-connected condition—certain ototoxic medications used to treat service-connected conditions can cause or worsen hearing loss, making a secondary service connection claim under 38 CFR § 3.310 appropriate.

What to Bring to Your C&P Exam

Come prepared with your DD-214 or service records showing duty assignments involving noise exposure, any in-service audiograms, and a written statement describing your noise exposure in specific terms—what equipment, how often, for how long, and whether hearing protection was available. Be specific. Vague answers produce vague opinions, and vague opinions get denied.

When the VA Gets It Wrong

The VA denies or underrates hearing loss claims for several common reasons: inadequate C&P exams, failure to apply the correct rating tables, or reliance on a negative nexus opinion that does not account for your full exposure history. If your rating feels wrong, pull your rating decision and check which diagnostic code was applied and whether the examiner used the correct tables under 38 CFR § 4.85.

If you spot an error, a Supplemental Claim with a private audiology opinion or a new audiogram showing worsening can get you back in front of the VA with stronger evidence. Knowing which appeal lane to use matters—review the 5 common VA claim mistakes that trip veterans up at this stage before you file anything.

For a step-by-step approach to building a strong claim from the start, Win Your VA Disability Claim covers the evidence strategy you need. And to run the numbers on your current combined rating, use the free VA claim tools on this site.

Tinnitus and hearing loss are real, they are service-connected for millions of veterans, and the VA has a specific process for rating them. Know the rules, file both conditions, and do not accept a weak exam or a wrong rating without pushing back.