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Big changes may be coming to how the VA evaluates and rates tinnitus—and they’re not in favor of veterans.
Right now, veterans with subjective tinnitus (the most common type—ringing only you can hear) qualify for a standalone 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 6260.
But under the proposed changes, that’s about to change—and not for the better.
The VA is planning to eliminate DC 6260 entirely, which means tinnitus would no longer be rated as a separate condition.
Instead, tinnitus would only be considered as a symptom of another service-connected condition, like hearing loss.
And here’s where it gets even worse:
- If your hearing loss is rated at 0%, you might still qualify for 10% under the new structure.
- But if your hearing loss is already compensable at 10% or higher, you’d get no additional rating for tinnitus.
That’s a major loss of benefits for hundreds of thousands of veterans.
Bottom line: These changes would gut the current system and make it much harder for veterans to get compensated for the #1 most claimed and service-connected VA disability.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- What’s Changing: The VA is proposing major changes to how tinnitus is rated. The current standalone 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 6260 would be eliminated. Instead, tinnitus would only be rated as a symptom of another condition—like hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, TBI, or neurocognitive disorders.
- What It Means for Veterans: If approved, tinnitus would no longer receive a separate rating, making it significantly harder for veterans to get compensated only for tinnitus. My take? It won’t happen in the future, which is a massive loss for veterans.
- Will You Lose Your Current Rating? No. If you already have a 10% tinnitus rating, you’re protected. You’ll be grandfathered in under the old rules—your existing rating won’t be taken away.
- Why You Should Act Now: If you’re thinking about filing a VA claim for tinnitus, don’t wait. File ASAP to make sure your claim is processed under the current, more favorable rating criteria before the changes take effect.
2025 VA Rating Changes to Tinnitus: A HUGE Loss for Veterans
Tinnitus has long been a gateway claim for veterans—it’s one of the most commonly filed and most frequently compensated conditions in the entire VA disability system.
But that standalone 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 6260?
It’s likely going away in 2025.
What’s Changing?
Under the VA’s proposed updates, tinnitus will no longer be rated on its own.
Instead, it will only be evaluated as a symptom of another condition, such as:
- Hearing loss (but only if it’s rated at 0%)
- Meniere’s disease
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Neurocognitive disorders
In most other cases, veterans with tinnitus won’t receive a separate rating at all.
PROJECTED 2025 VA Tinnitus Rating Changes (New Ratings and Criteria)
| DC 6100, New VA Disability Ratings for Tinnitus | VA Rating |
|---|---|
| If Hearing Loss is evaluated at 0% and Tinnitus is diagnosed as associated with underlying Hearing Loss. | 10% |
| Otherwise, evaluate using the Hearing Loss Tables. | |
| Note (#1): The 10% evaluation is only applicable to tinnitus diagnosed as associated with non-compensable service-connected hearing loss. Tinnitus diagnosed as associated with another service-connected disability (i.e., Meniere’s disease, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), cerebral arteriosclerosis, vascular neurocognitive disorder) must be evaluated as a part of that disability without a separate evaluation for tinnitus under diagnostic code 6100. | |
| Note (#2): Tinnitus will only be compensated as part of an underlying service-connected condition. |
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.
Why This Hurts Veterans
- No More Standalone Tinnitus Claims: If tinnitus is your only issue, you’ll get nothing unless it’s linked to another rated condition.
- Increased Proof Required: Veterans must now show that tinnitus is directly tied to a service-connected condition.
- Thousands Will Lose Benefits: For many, tinnitus has been their only rated disability. That 10% may soon disappear.
My Take
This is a devastating loss…
The 10% rating for tinnitus has helped millions of veterans get a foot in the door with the VA.
Eliminating it creates a new barrier that could leave many without VA disability compensation.
What is the Effective Date for the Tinnitus VA Rating Changes?
The exact date for implementing the proposed tinnitus VA rating changes remains uncertain, but fall/winter 2025 is the anticipated timeframe.
The current administration is still reviewing the proposal, and delays or revisions are possible.
Note: 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?
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?
Yes, you can still file secondary claims to tinnitus, even with the proposed changes to the VA 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.
Conclusion & Wrap-Up
These proposed changes would gut the current system—making it far more difficult for veterans to get compensated for tinnitus, one of the most filed and awarded claims in VA history.
If you already have a 10% rating, you’re safe.
You’ll be grandfathered in under the current rules.
But if you haven’t filed yet, the clock is ticking.
File your tinnitus claim now—before the VA finalizes these changes.
This may be your last opportunity to lock in the benefits you’ve rightfully earned through your service.
And never stop fighting for the benefits you deserve.
Remember this: YOU SERVED. YOU DESERVE.
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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.
