DVA Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Claims

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

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

My hearing only got worse years after I left. Can I still claim?

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.

Can I claim tinnitus and hearing loss together?

Yes. They are separate conditions that often coexist, and each can be claimed on its own evidence. Many veterans claim both.

Will DVA cover hearing aids?

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.