The VA is considering significant revisions to how tinnitus is evaluated and rated, potentially reshaping the landscape for veterans seeking disability compensation.
The well-known 10% rating for subjective tinnitus—the kind only you can hear—may soon be a thing of the past.
Under these proposed changes, tinnitus would no longer be rated independently under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260.
Instead, it would be evaluated as part of an underlying condition, such as hearing loss.
For example, under DC 6100, a 10% rating for tinnitus would only apply if the associated hearing loss is non-compensable at 0%—meaning it doesn’t qualify for a 10% rating or higher on its own.
If the hearing loss is compensable at 10% or more, no additional rating for tinnitus would be provided.
The VA plans to remove DC 6260 entirely, meaning tinnitus will no longer be rated as a separate condition (this is bad news for veterans).
Pro Tip: If you already have a VA rating for tinnitus, you will be “grandfathered in” under your current rating. This means your existing benefits will remain unchanged by the upcoming revisions. However, acting now could ensure your benefits are secured before these new rules take effect.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- Proposed Changes to Tinnitus Ratings: The VA is considering significant changes to how tinnitus is evaluated, potentially eliminating the standalone 10% rating under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260 and instead evaluating tinnitus only as part of an underlying condition, such as hearing loss.
- Impact on Veterans: If the proposed changes are implemented, tinnitus will no longer receive a separate rating, which will make it much more challenging for veterans to receive compensation solely for tinnitus.
- Grandfathering of Existing Ratings: Veterans who already have a 10% VA rating for tinnitus under the current system will be “grandfathered in,” meaning their existing rating will not be affected by the new rules.
- Importance of Acting Quickly: Veterans considering filing a claim for tinnitus should do so promptly to ensure their claim is processed under the current, more favorable rating criteria before the proposed changes take effect.
What Is the New VA Rating for Tinnitus?
Under the proposed changes to how the VA evaluates tinnitus, DC 6100 specifically addresses the scenario where tinnitus is associated with hearing loss.
Here’s what it means for veterans:
- 10% Rating for Tinnitus with Non-Compensable Hearing Loss: If a veteran has hearing loss rated at 0% (recognized as service-connected but not severe enough to warrant compensation) and tinnitus is diagnosed as linked to this hearing loss, a 10% VA disability rating can be awarded for tinnitus. This is the only scenario under DC 6100 where tinnitus can still receive a separate 10% rating.
- Otherwise Evaluated Under Hearing Loss Tables: If the hearing loss itself is compensable (i.e., rated at 10% or higher), no additional 10% rating will be granted for tinnitus. Instead, the veteran’s overall rating will be determined based on the severity of the hearing loss alone, using the standard hearing loss tables.
- Note #1: Tinnitus diagnosed in association with other service-connected conditions, such as Meniere’s disease, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or certain vascular and neurocognitive disorders, will not receive a separate 10% rating under DC 6100. Instead, tinnitus will be evaluated as part of these underlying conditions, without a distinct tinnitus rating.
- Note #2: Tinnitus will only be compensated if it is part of an underlying service-connected condition. This means the VA will no longer provide a standalone rating for tinnitus; it must be tied directly to another recognized condition.
This proposed change could significantly reduce the ease with which veterans currently receive compensation for tinnitus, especially when it is the only or primary condition they are dealing with.
What Is the VA Tinnitus Rating Changes Effective Date?
The exact date for implementing the proposed VA tinnitus rating changes remains uncertain, but fall/winter 2024 is the anticipated timeframe.
After the VA finalizes these changes, there will be a 60-day “cooling off” period before they officially take effect.
What does this mean for you?
Act Now: If you’re planning to file a VA claim for tinnitus, it’s crucial to do so as soon as possible to ensure your claim is processed under the current, more favorable rules.
Why Is the VA Changing How It Rates Tinnitus?
The VA explains that the proposed changes are intended to better reflect current medical understanding and practice.
Current medical research indicates that tinnitus likely results from abnormal neural activity somewhere in the auditory pathway, which the brain incorrectly interprets as sound.
As a result, tinnitus is generally a symptom associated with an underlying condition, such as hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, traumatic brain injury, or cerebral atherosclerosis, rather than an independent disease.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury, or a problem with the circulatory system. For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or with other treatments that reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.”
Previously, VA regulations may have inadvertently suggested that tinnitus is an independent condition, rather than a symptom connected to other health issues.
The VA’s proposed revisions aim to correct this by emphasizing the medically supported view that tinnitus is generally a symptom of an underlying condition, thereby aligning the rating criteria with modern medical practices.
Will the New Tinnitus Ratings Impact My Current VA Rating?
Your existing service-connected disability rating for tinnitus at 10% under DC 6260 will not be affected by the VA’s proposed changes to the tinnitus rating criteria.
If you already have a rating for tinnitus, you will be “grandfathered in” under the current system, meaning your existing rating will remain intact, and you will continue to receive your benefits as before.
The “grandfathering” process is a protective measure designed to ensure that veterans who have already been awarded a disability rating are not negatively impacted by changes in VA policy or rating criteria.
This provides stability and predictability for veterans with established ratings.
Although new claims or requests for increased ratings might be evaluated under the new criteria, your established rating will be preserved.
The proposed changes would primarily affect future claims or those seeking new evaluations, so while these adjustments may change how new claims are processed, your existing benefits under the old system are secure.
Can I Still File Secondary Claims to Tinnitus?
Absolutely, you can still file secondary claims related to tinnitus, even with the proposed changes to the VA’s rating criteria.
Secondary claims involve conditions that are either caused or aggravated by an existing service-connected condition like tinnitus.
So, if you have other health issues that you believe are linked to your service-connected tinnitus, you can still seek additional VA disability compensation for those conditions.
Even if the proposed changes remove the standalone rating for tinnitus, your ability to file secondary claims remains intact—provided you are already service-connected for tinnitus at 10%.
To strengthen your claim, it’s crucial to provide compelling medical evidence, including a nexus letter from a healthcare provider, clearly establishing the link between your tinnitus and any secondary conditions.
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About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
