Tinnitus (VA Rating) — Ringing in the ears
Tinnitus is rated by the VA at a flat 10% under DC 6260, worth $180.42 a month in 2026, whether the ringing is in one ear or both.
Official source: ecfr.gov
Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in your ears that other people cannot hear. The VA rates it under Diagnostic Code 6260 at a single flat 10%, worth $180.42 per month in 2026. It does not matter whether the noise is in one ear or both. You get one 10% rating, period.
Tinnitus is one of the most commonly service-connected disabilities in the country. Noise exposure during military service is the usual cause: weapons fire, aircraft engines, heavy machinery, generators, and explosions. If your ears started ringing during or after service, you have a strong factual basis for a claim, especially with a buddy statement describing the noisy environments you worked in.
Many veterans use tinnitus as a starter rating and stack it with other conditions like hearing loss, PTSD, or TBI to build a higher combined rating. Because tinnitus is rated separately from hearing loss, you can and should file for both at the same time. The C&P examiner will typically run a Maryland CNC speech test and a pure-tone audiogram for the hearing portion, then ask about tinnitus separately.
Heads up for 2026: the VA has proposed eliminating tinnitus as a standalone 10% condition and replacing it with a broader functional evaluation. As of May 2026 that change is not final. The flat 10% rating still applies, so file now under the current rules.
In real life
- A veteran with constant ringing in one ear receives the same 10% tinnitus rating ($180.42/month) as a veteran with ringing in both ears.
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Frequently asked questions about Tinnitus (VA Rating)
How much is the 2026 VA tinnitus rating worth?+
Tinnitus is a flat 10% rating, which pays $180.42 per month in 2026 for a veteran with no dependents. The amount does not change if both ears are affected.
Can I get a higher than 10% VA rating for tinnitus?+
No. Under Diagnostic Code 6260, tinnitus is capped at a single 10% rating. To raise your overall payment, file for related conditions like hearing loss, PTSD, or TBI and let them combine.
Can I get VA benefits for tinnitus and hearing loss at the same time?+
Yes. Tinnitus is always rated separately from hearing loss, so you can receive both ratings. File them together so the C&P exam covers both conditions in one visit.
What evidence does the VA need to grant tinnitus?+
A current diagnosis from an audiologist or doctor, a statement describing when the ringing started and what it sounds like, and evidence of in-service noise exposure such as your MOS, deployment records, or a buddy statement.
Is the VA going to eliminate the tinnitus 10% rating?+
A proposed rule would replace the flat 10% rating with a functional evaluation, but as of May 2026 it has not been finalized. The 10% flat rating still applies.
Source: ecfr.gov