Rating guide · Hearing
Tinnitus: The Sound of Service
Tank engines, howitzers, rifle ranges, KC-46s on the McConnell flight line. Kansas veterans were around a lot of noise, and the ringing many still hear is a ratable condition.
- The 10% rating
- Kansas noise sources
- Effect on combined rating
- Links to other conditions
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How Tinnitus Is Rated
Noise Sources That Support the Claim
- Fort Riley: armor, artillery, small-arms ranges and motor pools
- McConnell AFB and the 184th Wing: tanker flight lines and maintenance
- Forbes Field and the 190th Air Refueling Wing: KC-135 operations
- Generators, engines and heavy equipment anywhere you served
Your own description of the ringing is evidence, and for many jobs the VA already concedes hazardous noise exposure based on its job-noise listing. Be consistent about when the ringing started.
Why a 10% Rating Can Matter More Than It Looks
VA math combines ratings and rounds to the nearest 10%. For a veteran already at 50%, adding tinnitus makes 55%, which rounds up to 60%, an increase of $302.12 a month for a veteran alone in 2026. Try it in our calculator.
Constant ringing can also lead to insomnia, anxiety and depression, which can be service-connected as secondary conditions. Hearing loss is rated separately.
Tinnitus VA Rating: Common Questions
Do both ears get separate ratings?
No. Recurrent tinnitus gets a single 10% rating regardless of where you hear it.
I was a tanker or artilleryman at Fort Riley. Does that help?
Yes. Armor and artillery roles involve hazardous noise, which supports the in-service exposure the VA looks for.
What if I never complained about it in service?
That’s common. A consistent account of when it started, plus documented noise exposure, can support the claim.
Is the VA changing tinnitus ratings?
Changes have been proposed, but as of October 2026 tinnitus is still rated 10% on its own.
Kansas Veterans: Get the Rating You Earned
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