A Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam for hearing loss and tinnitus is typically conducted by an audiologist, whether through a VA medical center or a contracted provider network such as LHI, QTC, or VES. The exam itself is straightforward and non-invasive. It usually includes a puretone audiometry test (checking your hearing threshold at various frequencies), a speech discrimination test (the Maryland CNC word test), and an interview where the examiner asks about your history of noise exposure in service, onset of symptoms, and how your hearing loss or tinnitus affects your daily functioning and occupational life.
For tinnitus specifically, there is no objective test — the diagnosis and rating are based almost entirely on your self-reported symptoms, so be ready to clearly and honestly describe when the ringing, buzzing, or other noise started, how often it occurs, and how it affects your sleep, concentration, or work. Tinnitus is rated under 38 CFR 4.87, Diagnostic Code 6260, and is capped at a single 10 percent rating regardless of whether it's in one ear or both.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →Hearing loss is rated under 38 CFR 4.85 and 4.86 using a table that combines your puretone threshold averages and speech discrimination scores from both ears. This means two veterans with what feels like similar hearing loss can receive very different ratings depending on the exact numbers.
Bringing documentation is a good idea, but focus on what is relevant: your service treatment records showing any hearing tests (audiograms) taken during service, any documented complaints of ear pain, ringing, or hearing difficulty, and evidence of military occupational noise exposure, including your MOS and any hazardous noise duty documentation already in your claims file. The examiner should have access to your C-file, but having copies yourself ensures nothing is missed, especially if your records are incomplete.
At the Board of Veterans' Appeals, across issues decided from 1992 to July 2026, hearing loss issues (219,584) came out 18.4% granted, 43.0% denied and 33.1% remanded (VetAid's Board outcome rates). These are outcomes for cases that were already appealed, not the odds of winning an initial claim, and appealed cases are not a random sample of all claims.
The concrete next step is to gather your service treatment records and any post-service hearing tests or buddy statements about noise exposure before the exam, and answer the examiner's questions factually and specifically rather than minimizing your symptoms.
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