Rating guide · Hearing
Tinnitus: The Claim Most Veterans Can Make
If your ears have rung since your time in service, you’re in very large company. Tinnitus is the most common service-connected disability, and one of the most approachable claims to file.
- How it’s rated
- Noise that counts
- Combined-rating effect
- Related conditions
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One Rating Level
Noise That Supports a Tinnitus Claim
Tinnitus can’t be measured by a machine, so your description is evidence in its own right. What the VA wants is a believable source in service:
- Aircraft: flight lines and maintenance at Offutt, and KC-135 operations with the 155th Air Refueling Wing in Lincoln
- Weapons: ranges, artillery, and Guard training at Camp Ashland or elsewhere
- Engines and equipment: generators, vehicles, ships and heavy machinery
For many military jobs, the VA already concedes hazardous noise exposure based on its own job-noise listing.
What 10% Can Do for Your Combined Rating
Under VA math, adding tinnitus to an existing 50% gives 55%, which rounds up to 60%. That’s $302.12 more each month for a veteran alone in 2026. Plug in your own numbers in the calculator.
Tinnitus can also lead to sleep problems, anxiety and depression, which can be service-connected as secondary conditions. Hearing loss gets its own separate rating.
Tinnitus VA Rating: Common Questions
Do I get 10% for each ear?
No. The VA assigns a single 10% for recurrent tinnitus, no matter where you hear it.
I worked on aircraft at Offutt. Does that help?
Yes. Flight-line and aircraft maintenance work typically involves hazardous noise, which supports the in-service exposure the VA looks for.
My records don’t mention ringing. Is that a problem?
Not necessarily. Many veterans never reported it. A clear, consistent account of when it started, plus evidence of noise exposure, can support the claim.
Is tinnitus still rated on its own?
Yes. The VA has proposed changes, but as of October 2026 tinnitus is still rated 10% separately.
Nebraska Veterans: Get the Rating You Earned
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