Tinnitus VA Claim Field Manual

Mission Brief

That nonstop ringing is more than a nuisance—it is one of the VA’s most common service-connected disabilities. This field manual shows you how to prove tinnitus started in service, document how it affects you today, and keep control of every VA exam.

We start by mapping your duty stations, MOS noise exposure, and hearing conservation records. From there you will build credible lay statements, lock down an audiologist nexus, and cite Diagnostic Code 6260 so the VA can’t shrug the claim off as “subjective.”

Keep your Claim Prep Checklist close, pull the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing, and prep for the hearing loss & tinnitus DBQ so you can rebut any sloppy C&P exam.

Map the noise: align every flight deck, engine room, or weapons billet with the MOS noise exposure table and your DD 2215/2216 audiograms.
Track the onset: document when the ringing began, who witnessed it, and how it has persisted—use VA Form 21-10210 for lay statements.
Lock in a nexus: partner with an audiologist who will cite 38 C.F.R. §4.87, Diagnostic Code 6260, and explain why your tinnitus is “at least as likely as not” tied to service.
Control the exam: bring a symptom log, your MOS noise printout, and any private opinions to the C&P exam—submit a rebuttal if the examiner ignores them.

Situation Brief

Tinnitus tops the VA disability charts—3.25 million veterans already hold the diagnosis—and it remains the most common award for new claimants.¹ Ratings still hinge on proving a credible in-service noise event, showing symptoms never stopped, and aligning your medical evidence with 38 C.F.R. §4.87, Diagnostic Code 6260.²

Signals You Need This

You pulled duty in high-noise billets (flight deck, artillery, engine rooms, armor crews) and now have constant ringing, buzzing, or roaring in one or both ears.
Your service audiograms show threshold shifts, baseline DD 2215/2216 forms vanished, or the VA paperwork doesn’t acknowledge your MOS noise exposure.
You are filing tinnitus secondary to hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or temporomandibular issues and need to connect the dots the VA missed.

Stay on Course

Audit your record for every noise event—firing ranges, GQ drills, flight ops, shipyard evolutions—and match them to the MOS noise listing. Pair that with a professional nexus opinion so the VA hears more than “self-reported ringing.”

Pull service audiograms (DD 2215 baseline and DD 2216 follow-ups) plus any hearing conservation counseling statements.
Highlight your MOS or duty title in the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing to show the expected hazard level.
Gather lay statements from shipmates, family, or supervisors who noticed your complaints within a year of separation—capture them on VA Form 21-10210.

If you served in combat or hazardous duty, cross-check your deployment orders and award citations so your noise exposure is unmistakable in the file.

Diagnostic code 6260 reminder: Recurrent tinnitus maxes out at 10%. The goal is to prove service connection and keep the award protected—quote DC 6260’s notes so the rater cannot deny bilateral or “head” tinnitus as duplicative.²

Prep Checklist

Before you file or reopen, stack the evidence that proves noise exposure, continuity of symptoms, and a medical link to service.

File an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) so your effective date is locked while you gather tinnitus evidence.
Request copies of DD 2215/2216 audiograms, hearing conservation logs, and any STR entries documenting ear complaints or threshold shifts.
Print and annotate the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing for every billet you held.
Log persistent symptoms—sleep disruption, concentration issues, or the pitch of the ringing—in a dated journal.
Collect lay statements from witnesses using VA Form 21-10210 (or companion spouse/family statements).
Secure an audiologist or ENT nexus letter that states your tinnitus is “at least as likely as not” related to service noise, referencing Diagnostic Code 6260 and your MOS.
Stage your filing lane: VA Form 21-526EZ for a new claim/increase, or VA Form 20-0995 for a Supplemental Claim with new medical evidence.

Label every exhibit with the veteran’s name, file number, and what element it proves: noise exposure, chronic symptoms, or medical nexus.

Step-by-Step Playbook

Document hazardous noise exposure: Match each duty title to the MOS noise exposure listing and include orders, deployment logs, or awards that prove you were in high-decibel environments.
Prove onset and continuity: Submit audiograms, hearing conservation records, and lay statements showing the ringing started in service and never stopped.
Secure the medical nexus: Have an audiologist cite 38 C.F.R. §4.87, Diagnostic Code 6260 and explain why your tinnitus is at least as likely as not tied to service noise or a service-connected disability.
Choose and execute the filing lane: File VA Form 21-526EZ for a new claim or VA Form 20-0995 for a supplemental claim. Upload labeled exhibits and your nexus letter together.
Control the C&P exam and follow up: Bring your evidence bundle to the exam, log every question asked, and submit a rebuttal statement if the report misstates your history.

Evidence Arsenal

Organize your proof so the rater can walk through noise exposure, symptom history, and nexus without guessing.

Documents to Gather

Service and post-service audiograms (DD 2215/2216) plus hearing conservation counseling entries.
Annotated Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing pages highlighting each noisy assignment.
Lay statements from battle buddies, supervisors, or family documenting when they first noticed the ringing.
Private nexus opinion or DBQ from an audiologist/ENT referencing Diagnostic Code 6260 and your MOS exposure.
C&P exam reports and any addenda—ready to rebut if the examiner ignores credible evidence.

Templates & Tools

Claim Prep Checklist to track exhibits and submission dates.
Lay statement templates for tinnitus logs and buddy letters.
VA Form 21-10210 for lay/witness statements.
VA Disability Calculator to model combined ratings when tinnitus pairs with hearing loss.
Fountain v. McDonald—case law confirming tinnitus is the type of condition a veteran can competently report.

Reminder: Objective tinnitus (audible to others) is rated with the underlying condition. Recurrent tinnitus tops out at 10%, so focus on ironclad service connection and protect the rating with detailed evidence.²

Intel & Tools

Tinnitus wins come from disciplined logs, credible medical opinions, and tight exam control.

Keep a tinnitus log: record pitch, duration, and daily impact (sleep, concentration) so examiners see functional loss, not just “ringing.”
Prep for the exam: rehearse the history of onset, major noise events, and how often the ringing hits. Bring your MOS noise printout and nexus letter to the appointment.
Cross-check your MOS: if the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing shows “high” or “moderate” hazard, cite it in your cover letter and at the exam.
Monitor rating changes: VA proposed updates to respiratory and auditory ratings in February 2022; they are not final as of September 2025. Track the Federal Register so you can adapt if Diagnostic Code 6260 is revised.³

Related Tips

Update your evidence whenever you change duty status, get a new audiology report, or learn about VA rating updates—and log every submission in your tracker.

Next Actions & Support

Stay Organized

Review VA.gov or VA.gov inbox weekly for exam notices or evidence requests and respond within 7 days.
Track supplemental evidence—new audiograms, nexus opinions, lay statements—in a shared folder with clear file names.
If the decision is favorable, archive the grant letter alongside your evidence bundle so you can defend the rating later.

More Routes

File secondary claims for hearing loss, migraines, sleep issues, or anxiety aggravated by tinnitus.
Appealing a denial? Use the supplemental lane with a stronger nexus opinion or new audiology testing.
Compare tactics in the Daily Intel Archive—search for tinnitus to see how other veterans rebutted bad C&P exams.

Tinnitus Claim FAQs

Why is the tinnitus rating capped at 10%?

Diagnostic Code 6260 assigns a single 10% evaluation for recurrent tinnitus—whether it is in one ear, both ears, or in the head. Focus on proving service connection and defending the rating; objective tinnitus tied to another diagnosis gets rated with that underlying condition.²

Can I win a tinnitus claim without service treatment records mentioning ringing?

Yes. The Court recognizes tinnitus is the kind of condition a veteran can accurately describe, so credible lay statements plus evidence of hazardous service noise can establish the in-service event. Pair those statements with MOS noise exposure listings and an audiologist nexus opinion.⁴

Should I file tinnitus secondary to hearing loss or TBI?

If another service-connected condition caused or worsened your tinnitus, yes—have your audiologist explain the link (“at least as likely as not”) and file as secondary. The evidence bundle still needs noise exposure history, lay statements, and a nexus opinion that ties the tinnitus to the primary disability.

Get updates when VA rating proposals shift, new MOS noise guidance drops, or tinnitus exam checklists are refined. Zero fluff—just the intel you need.