Tinnitus VA Ratings: Using Secondary Conditions

The most recent annual report from the Veterans Administration shows that tinnitus is the most common service-connected condition veterans are currently receiving disability benefits for. That is true for both new claims and total VA disability benefits.

In the 2024 fiscal year alone, 273,502 new claims were approved for tinnitus.That is significantly higher than the next most common claim. In total, more than 3.2 million US military veterans are receiving benefits for tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a disorder that creates a sensation of sound within the ear.The sound typically presents as ringing in the ears, but may also be a buzzing or clicking sound. Most cases of tinnitus are “subjective” cases, meaning that only the person suffering from tinnitus can hear the sound. However, a small percentage of people experience “objective” tinnitus, which means that others may be able to perceive the sound.

The condition may be caused by injury, an infection, or noise exposure.

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How is Tinnitus Rated by the VA?

While tinnitus is the most common condition veterans receive benefits for, it does not make up a comparable share of total benefits pay. That is because tinnitus cannot be assigned a VA disability rating of higher than 10%. In 2025, that means that a veteran whose sole service-connected disability is tinnitus will receive monthly VA benefits in the amount of $175.51. While the veteran will be entitled to healthcare services, those services will typically be limited to treatment for the service connected condition.

For a veteran to receive more substantial VA disability benefits, they would need to claim additional service-connected conditions. Those may include other conditions that are secondary to the service-connected tinnitus.

Conditions That May Be Secondary to Tinnitus

There are a number of medical conditions that may be paired with tinnitus. In some cases the additional condition is the cause of the tinnitus, while in other cases tinnitus is the primary condition and the other is secondary to the tinnitus.

Regardless of which is the primary service connected condition, filing a claim for both conditions may increase the total VA disability rating.

Some possible connected conditions include:

Hearing loss
Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression
Bruxism
Migraine headaches
Sleep disorders
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

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The Tinnitus VA Rating System is Changing

Under the current system, the tinnitus VA disability rating is fixed at 10%. That was already limiting in terms of the benefits available. However, a change expected in 2025 would make it even more difficult for veterans suffering from tinnitus to receive VA disability benefits.

Under the proposed changes, tinnitus would no longer receive a separate VA disability rating. Instead, tinnitus would be considered only when the VA assessed the veterans hearing loss VA rating. In other words, a veteran who suffered from tinnitus without compensable hearing loss would no longer receive monetary benefits for their condition.

As you can see, that makes it all the more important to ensure that any conditions secondary to tinnitus or conditions that may be the underlying cause of tinnitus be considered and included in your VA disability claim.

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If you Have a Tinnitus VA Claim, Act Now

While the new rating system expected to take effect in 2025 will not allow veterans to receive a disability rating based on a tinnitus claim alone, veterans who already have a 10% VA disability rating based on tinnitus will likely retain that rating and continue to receive benefits. Therefore, if you have a tinnitus VA claim that you have not filed, you should contact an experienced VA disability claims advocate as soon as possible. If you act quickly, you may still be able to secure a 10% VA disability rating for tinnitus and receive monetary benefits.

An experienced VA disability benefits advocate can also help you determine which of your other medical conditions may be service connected or secondarily connected to service-connected tinnitus.

Proving Service Connection for Tinnitus

Although tinnitus is extremely common among veterans, it is not presumed service connected for any group of veterans.That means it is up to you and your VA disability benefits advocate to establish the link between your military service and your tinnitus or other service connected medical condition.

The best way to establish your service connection will depend on the circumstances of your military service and how your tinnitus was triggered. For example, you may be able to establish a service connection by showing that you worked in a high noise exposure role during your military service. You may also be able to establish a service connection by showing that you were infected with a bacterial or viral infection that causes tinnitus during your military service. Or, you may be able to establish a service connection by showing that you were diagnosed with tinnitus during your military service.

Depending on the cause of the tinnitus and the type of evidence you present, you may also need to provide evidence of the onset date of the tinnitus. This may be established through military medical records, post-military medical records, or statements from people in your life who have first-hand knowledge of when you begin to suffer symptoms.

You may also need a nexus letter from a medical professional showing that the infection, exposure or other event that caused your tinnitus is a likely cause of the condition.

If tinnitus is secondary to another medical condition, then you will need to establish both the service connection for the underlying condition and the nexus between the tinnitus.

Get Help with your Tinnitus VA Disability Claim

If the process above sounds complicated, don’t worry. You will be required to provide a significant amount of evidence, medical and other, in support of your tinnitus VA disability claim. However, you don’t have to do it alone. At Disabled Vets, our advocates are fully devoted to helping disabled veterans and their families get the benefits they deserve. Whether you are just filing a claim for VA disability benefits or you are appealing a denial or attempting to establish a higher VA disability rating, we can help.

To learn more, call 888-373-4722 or fill out our contact form here. If your VA disability claim is based on tinnitus and you have not yet filed, it is especially important to contact us as soon as possible.