Tinnitus
Recurrent tinnitus is rated at a maximum of 10 percent under diagnostic code 6260. Whether it is unilateral or bilateral, the rating does not exceed 10 percent.
Rating criteria
Criteria are from the current VA rating schedule; see the official sources below for the regulation text.
Common evidence types
- Service records showing noise exposure
- Audiology notes
- Lay statement about persistent ringing
- Service treatment records documenting the condition or its onset in service
- Current medical records showing a diagnosis and ongoing treatment
- A medical nexus opinion connecting the condition to service
Relevant VA forms
Commonly raised secondary connections
Veterans often raise these conditions in the same claim. Whether one condition is actually secondary to another in your case is a medical question that depends on your records and a clinician's opinion. This list is educational, not a checklist.
Common denial reasons
Service connection generally requires three things under 38 CFR 3.303: a current diagnosis, an in-service event or exposure, and a medical link between the two. These are the general failure points, not a prediction about any specific claim.
- No current diagnosis established in the record
- No medical nexus opinion linking the condition to service
- No documented in-service event, injury, illness, or exposure
- Missed or incomplete C&P examination
Official sources
- 38 CFR Part 4 Schedule for Rating Disabilities(Electronic Code of Federal Regulations)
- M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual: Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section I, Topic 4: Tinnitus
- Hearing Loss and Tinnitus exam (DBQ not public)
Condition data last reviewed July 5, 2026. For the full educational write-up, see the Tinnitus condition page.