Article at a glance
- Noise exposure is the link: service-related noise is a recognised contributor to both conditions.
- They often go together: tinnitus and hearing loss frequently occur side by side, and each can be claimed.
- Among the most accepted: hearing conditions are some of the most frequently accepted veteran claims.
- Testing matters: an audiogram and a clear diagnosis carry a claim a long way.
Noise is part of service life, and tinnitus and hearing loss are two of the conditions veterans most commonly go on to claim. Years of weapons fire, aircraft, engines and machinery take a toll on hearing that often does not become obvious until well after service.
This guide explains how DVA approaches tinnitus and hearing loss claims, how payouts are worked out, and the evidence that helps. For the wider picture, see our DVA medical conditions hub and our explainer on the DVA impairment points table.
Tinnitus, hearing loss and military service
Tinnitus is the perception of sound with no external source, usually a ringing, buzzing, hissing or roaring in one or both ears. It can disrupt sleep, make concentration difficult and wear on you over time. Hearing loss is a reduced ability to hear, which can range from struggling to follow conversation in a noisy room through to partial deafness. The two often occur together, because the same noise damage that causes one frequently causes the other.
For veterans, the contributing factors read like a description of service: weapons and live fire, artillery and explosives, aircraft, vehicles and engine rooms, and machinery and power tools, often over years and not always with consistent hearing protection. That accumulated exposure is what links many veterans’ hearing conditions back to their service.
Can you claim tinnitus and hearing loss through DVA?
Yes. Tinnitus and hearing loss are well-recognised conditions, each with its own Statement of Principles, and both are among the most frequently accepted claims for veterans. DVA assesses liability by looking at whether your service involved the recognised noise exposure and whether the medical evidence supports the diagnosis. A claim can be accepted where service caused the condition, or where service materially aggravated existing hearing damage. Which legislation applies, MRCA, DRCA or the VEA, depends on when and where you served, and that affects how the claim is handled. Because the two conditions so often sit together, it is worth claiming both rather than just the one you noticed first.
The evidence that helps
- An audiogram (hearing test) and a diagnosis from your GP, audiologist or ENT specialist
- For tinnitus, a record of your symptoms, when they began and how they affect you
- Service history showing your noise exposure and roles
- Any records of hearing tests or ear problems during service
- A history of how the conditions affect your daily life and work
Tinnitus is largely diagnosed on what you report, so a clear, consistent account of your symptoms matters. Hearing loss is measured directly through an audiogram. Getting both recorded correctly is the foundation of a claim, and our guide on getting the right DVA diagnosis walks through that.
How tinnitus and hearing loss payouts are worked out
There is no single fixed figure. Once a condition is accepted, DVA assesses the degree of permanent impairment it causes, combines that with a lifestyle impact rating, and uses the Guide to Determining Impairment and Compensation (GARP) to set a compensation factor. That factor is applied to the maximum weekly permanent impairment rate, which is indexed each year, to work out the payment. In short, the greater the impairment and the lifestyle impact, the greater the compensation. In isolation, hearing claims can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands, but the only reliable figure is the one that comes from your own assessment.
For how the points side of this works in more detail, see our DVA impairment points table.
Treatment, hearing aids and devices
There is no cure for tinnitus, but treatments such as sound therapy, counselling and management strategies can reduce its impact, and hearing loss can often be helped with devices. Once a hearing condition is accepted, treatment and hearing services can be funded through your DVA card, which can extend to hearing aids and related devices and their ongoing maintenance. The specifics depend on your card and clinical advice, so it is worth confirming what you are entitled to once a claim is in place.
Frequently asked questions
Ringing in the ears or struggling to hear?
Our expert team can help you connect tinnitus and hearing loss to your service and prepare the evidence DVA looks for.
Related from KSC Law
- DVA medical conditions hub
- DVA hearing aids
- Getting the right DVA diagnosis
- DVA impairment points table
External resources
Frequently asked questions
Often yes. Noise-related hearing loss and tinnitus commonly worsen or surface long after the exposure. What matters is whether your service involved significant noise and the medical evidence supports the diagnosis.
Yes. They are separate conditions that often coexist, and each can be claimed on its own evidence. Many veterans claim both.
Where a hearing condition is accepted, hearing services and devices including hearing aids can be funded through your DVA card. The specifics depend on your card and clinical advice.