If you’re already service-connected for tinnitus or will be filing a claim soon, you must have a good understanding of what changes are being proposed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The proposed changes would radically alter how your condition is rated and compensated.
Major VA rating changes for Tinnitus
The VA proposes to eliminate the long-standing 10% disability rating for subjective tinnitus under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260. Tinnitus would no longer be rated as a distinct, stand-alone condition under these proposals. It would be considered a symptom of an underlying issue, such as hearing loss, and only rated as part of that overall condition.
Under this new policy, when your hearing loss itself is not bad enough to qualify for compensation (i.e., is rated at 0%), you can still receive a 10% rating for tinnitus. But if your hearing loss is already rated at 10% or more, you don’t receive a separate rating for tinnitus.
What if you already have a rating for Tinnitus?
Here’s the good news: if you’re already service-connected for tinnitus under DC 6260 with a VA disability rating, you’ll be “grandfathered in.” That is, your current 10% rating won’t decrease, and your monthly compensation will continue.
But if you haven’t yet applied, time is short. These proposed changes will be made final and implemented as early as fall or winter of 2024. There is a 60-day window between the final decision date and when the new regulations go into effect, but it is strongly suggested you take action now.
Why is the VA making these changes?
In line with the VA and supported by current medical understanding, tinnitus is not a disorder in and of itself. It is most commonly a symptom of some other underlying disorder, such as hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or Meniere’s disease.
The Mayo Clinic and the broader medical community have a tendency to address tinnitus as a symptom of underlying medical conditions. Therefore, the VA is trying to make its rating practices consistent with that perception by rolling tinnitus exams into related conditions.
Can you still file secondary claims?
Yes, you can still file secondary claims. If you are already service-connected for tinnitus, you can claim other conditions that were caused or worsened by it. These can be mental health conditions like anxiety or sleep disorders. The trick is to present medical evidence that creates the connection between tinnitus and the secondary condition.
What should you do now?
If you’re considering filing a claim for tinnitus, you must do it before the proposed rules change. By acting now, your claim will be decided under the current rating system, which will increase your chances of receiving the 10% stand-alone rating.
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You served, and you deserve every benefit you’ve earned. Don’t wait—act now to protect your VA compensation.
