Noise Exposure
Veterans may have been exposed to harmful noise during military service in combat, training, and general job duties.
Noise can come from gunfire, explosives, rockets, heavy weapons, jets and aircraft, and machinery.
Health problems related to noise
High-intensity noise and vibration can cause or contribute to hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
The Health and Medicine Division (HMD) (formally known as the Institute of Medicine) of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a 2006 report, Noise and Military Service: Implications for Hearing Loss and Tinnitus.
Health concerns?
If you are concerned about health problems associated with noise exposure during your military service, talk to your health care provider or contact your local VA Environmental Health Coordinator to help you get more information from a health care provider.
VA offers a variety of health care benefits to eligible Veterans. Not enrolled in the VA health care system? Find out if you qualify for VA health care.
Compensation benefits for health problems
Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are related to noise exposure during military service. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis. File a claim online.
Learn more about VA benefits.
Noise
Veterans may have been exposed to harmful noise during military service in combat, training, and general job duties.
Noise can come from gunfire, explosives, rockets, heavy weapons, jets and aircraft, and machinery.
High-intensity noise and vibration can cause or contribute to hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
- Noise webpage
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/noise/index.asp
- IOM - Noise Induced Hearing Loss
- https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/Documents/health/hearing/noise-induced-hearing-loss-english-8-2021.pdf
- NASEM- Noise and Military Service: Implications for Hearing Loss and Tinnitus (2005)
- https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11443/noise-and-military-service-implications-for-hearing-loss-and-tinnitus
Get a Registry Evaluation
- Environmental Health Coordinator
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp
- Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Operation New Dawn (OND) Team
- https://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp
Contact your local https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp, https://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp, or VA Primary Care Team about getting a registry evaluation.
WRIISC Link
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC)
- https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/referral/index.asp
For evaluation for difficult-to-diagnose conditions, contact your local https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/referral/index.asp.
