Tinnitus is rated under Diagnostic Code 6260 in 38 CFR 4.87. The rating schedule provides a single 10 percent evaluation for recurrent tinnitus, and that is the ceiling. For how a tinnitus claim is decided in the first place, see our tinnitus service connection overview.
One rating, regardless of which ear
The note accompanying Diagnostic Code 6260 states that only a single evaluation is assigned for recurrent tinnitus, whether the sound is perceived in one ear, both ears, or in the head. Veterans often expect 10 percent per ear; the schedule does not allow it.
That rule was litigated and settled years ago, and the current regulation reflects it. A claim for a second tinnitus rating will not succeed on the basis of bilateral symptoms alone.
What 10 percent is worth in a combined rating
A 10 percent rating rarely changes a monthly payment on its own, but VA math is not additive - ratings are combined, and each additional rating is applied to the remaining non-disabled portion. A 10 percent tinnitus rating added to an existing 50 percent evaluation produces 55 percent, which rounds to 60 percent and can be the difference between two payment tiers.
Our VA disability calculator shows how an added rating affects your combined evaluation and monthly amount using the current official rates.
Tinnitus and hearing loss are rated separately
Hearing loss is evaluated under an entirely different mechanism - the tables in 38 CFR 4.85, which convert puretone thresholds and speech discrimination scores into a numeric designation and then into a percentage. A veteran can be rated for both tinnitus and hearing loss where both are service connected. Our hearing loss ratings guide explains how those tables work.
Where veterans start
Every case is different, and there is no obligation at any step. When veterans want to understand what their records actually support, these are the two most common starting points:
- Medical records review
A licensed physician reviews your records for a $250 flat fee and identifies which conditions the available evidence may support. The fee is refunded in full if nothing supportable is identified.
- Nexus letter
When the records support one, a licensed provider writes the medical opinion addressing the link between your hearing condition and your service, including delayed-onset reasoning where that applies.
Where the real value usually lies
Because tinnitus caps at 10 percent, the more consequential question for many veterans is what else the condition contributes to - sleep disruption, concentration difficulty, and the mental health effects that can follow persistent symptoms. Those are rated on their own criteria when separately service connected. Our secondary conditions guide covers the pathways the VA recognizes and the evidence each one requires.
If the rating itself seems wrong
Because there is only one level, a tinnitus rating dispute is almost never about severity. It is about whether service connection was granted at all, or about the effective date assigned. The evidence question is the one that matters, and our tinnitus evidence guide sets out what typically strengthens a file.
Where to start
A paid medical records review is $250 and identifies which conditions your available records may support, including conditions you have not claimed yet. Talking through your situation by phone is always free, with no obligation.
Patriot NEXUS Letters provides independent medical evidence, not legal representation or claim filing. We do not guarantee that a medical professional will reach a favorable conclusion or that the VA will approve any claim.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get 10 percent for each ear?
No. Diagnostic Code 6260 provides a single evaluation for recurrent tinnitus whether it is perceived in one ear, both ears, or in the head.
Can tinnitus ever be rated above 10 percent?
Not under Diagnostic Code 6260. Higher compensation for hearing-related disability comes from a separate hearing loss rating or from separately service-connected conditions, not from a higher tinnitus evaluation.
Does a 10 percent tinnitus rating actually increase my payment?
It depends on your other ratings. Ratings are combined rather than added, so 10 percent added to an existing evaluation may or may not push the combined figure into the next 10 percent tier after rounding.