VA Fast Letter - 10-35 - Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing for Hearing Loss and/or Tinnitus Claims

Sep 15, 2026

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VA Fast Letter 10-35 outlines a standardized approach for adjudicating claims for service connection of hearing loss and/or tinnitus. It establishes the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing, compiled from Department of Defense-verified MOS probability of hazardous noise exposure. Decision makers must verify current disability evidence and in-service hearing loss/tinnitus evidence, then use the listing to concede exposure when exposure probability is highly probable or moderate, followed by appropriate VA examination requests and nexus review based on all records.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Purpose

Background

Instructions

Evidence review requirements

Conceding hazardous noise exposure

VA examination and medical nexus development

Additional guidance

This is a reprint of VA Fast Letter 10-35. It is used by the ARNG Medical Waiver Section to determine appropriate MOS’s for applicants with hearing loss. An applicant diagnosed with hearing loss must avoid MOS’s with exposure to hazardous noise. See MOS chart below. September 2, 2010 Director (00/21) All VA Regional Offices In Reply Refer To: 211B Fast Letter 10-35 SUBJECT: Modifying the Development Process in Claims for Hearing Loss and/or Tinnitus Purpose This letter introduces the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing, a rating job aid for determinations regarding service connection of hearing loss and/or tinnitus. The Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing is a compilation of Department of Defense-verified lists of military occupational specialties (MOSs) and the corresponding probability of hazardous noise exposure. Use of a single listing of duty position and probability of exposure to hazardous noise will help to standardize processing of these claims. Background Each branch of the Armed Services has reviewed and endorsed lists of military occupational specialties and the corresponding probability of hazardous noise exposure related to an individual’s occupational specialty. The Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing is available at (The link on the actual memorandum does not work, see below for the listing, this is for US Army Only). Direct service connection may not be granted without medical evidence of a current disability; medical or, in certain circumstances, lay evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and medical evidence of a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and the present disease or injury. See Caluza v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 498, 506 (1995) aff'd, 78 F.3d 604 (Fed. Cir. 1996) . A Veteran is competent to report symptoms of hearing loss and/or tinnitus as a disability because symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus are capable of lay observation. See Charles v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 370 (2002); Espiritu v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 492 (1992) . Consequently, a Veteran’s testimony regarding hearing loss and/or tinnitus is sufficient to serve as evidence that the disability(ies) currently exists. Instructions Effective immediately, when a claim for hearing loss and/or tinnitus is received, the decision maker must review the claim for: -Sufficient evidence of a current disability (including lay evidence); and -Evidence of hearing loss and/or tinnitus in service; or records documenting an event, injury, disease, or symptoms of a disease potentially related to an audiological disability. If there is no documented evidence of an in-service illness, injury, or event with which the claimed conditions could be associated, the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing will be considered. Based on the Veteran’s records, each duty MOS, Air Force Specialty Code, rating, or duty assignment documented will be reviewed for a determination as to the probability of exposure to hazardous noise on the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing. If the duty position is shown to have a “Highly Probable” or “Moderate” probability of exposure to hazardous noise, exposure to such noise will be conceded for purposes of establishing the in-service event. In such cases, where there is sufficient evidence of a current disability and the in-service exposure to hazardous noise is conceded based on the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing, we would be obligated to request a VA examination and opinion to determine if there is a medical nexus. The level of probability of exposure conceded, such as “Highly Probable” or “Moderate,” should be included in the information provided to the examiner in the body of the examination request. Additionally, in other cases where an examination and opinion request are otherwise warranted, the probable level of exposure to hazardous noise associated with the Veteran’s documented duty position will be provided in the examination request remarks. Finally, the Duty MOS No

FAQs

What is the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing used for in hearing loss and tinnitus claims?

It is a rating job aid that supports determinations of service connection by linking military occupational specialties (MOSs) to the probability of hazardous noise exposure.

What must a decision maker review when a claim for hearing loss and/or tinnitus is received?

The decision maker must check for sufficient evidence of a current disability (including lay evidence) and evidence of hearing loss/tinnitus in service or records documenting a related event, injury, disease, or symptoms.

When is hazardous noise exposure conceded using the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing?

If the documented duty position shows a “Highly Probable” or “Moderate” probability of hazardous noise exposure, exposure is conceded for establishing the in-service event.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Anda