Anxiety Secondary to Tinnitus: DVA Claims Explained

Yes, you can claim anxiety secondary to tinnitus with DVA. The Anxiety Disorder SoP contains a specific factor for severe and permanent tinnitus — the same tinnitus that DVA has already accepted as service-related.

This is one of the tinnitus cascade claims: a group of mental health conditions that can each be claimed separately through their own SoP factors, all linking back to a single accepted condition. Veterans with accepted tinnitus who also have anxiety, depression and insomnia can claim all three. For permanent impairment, though, GARP M 2026 gives one rating for all accepted psychiatric conditions together, and it has no table for insomnia, so they do not each add their own impairment points.

The SoP factor

The Anxiety Disorder SoP No. 100 of 2023 (Reasonable Hypothesis version) contains factor 9(15):

“Having severe and permanent tinnitus at the time of the clinical onset of generalised anxiety disorder.”

The definition of “severe and permanent tinnitus” is the same as in the depressive disorder SoP: tinnitus that is present every day and requires use of a tinnitus masking device or causes loss of concentration, extreme discomfort and interferes with sleep. Your evidence needs to show the tinnitus is there every day, not just that it is bothersome.

How this differs from the depression secondary claim

Like the depression claim, the direct tinnitus factor is only in the Reasonable Hypothesis version of the Anxiety Disorder SoP. The Balance of Probabilities version (used for peacetime service) has no tinnitus factor at all.

So for peacetime-only veterans, tinnitus on its own does not open an anxiety claim. Check the other factors in the BoP SoP with an advocate.

What qualifies as an anxiety disorder under the SoP

The Anxiety Disorder SoP covers generalised anxiety disorder, anxiety disorder due to another medical condition, substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder, and other specified or unspecified anxiety disorder, as defined under DSM-5-TR. It excludes agoraphobia, panic disorder, selective mutism, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and specific phobia. The tinnitus factor applies to the onset of generalised anxiety disorder.

The most common presentation in veterans with tinnitus-related anxiety is generalised anxiety disorder: persistent and excessive worry across multiple domains, difficulty controlling the worry, and physical symptoms including muscle tension, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and sleep disturbance.

A diagnosis of “anxiety” or “anxiety symptoms” from a GP is not sufficient. DVA requires a formal diagnosis meeting DSM-5-TR criteria for a specific anxiety disorder from a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.

The relationship between tinnitus and anxiety

The clinical link between tinnitus and anxiety is well-documented. Persistent, intrusive tinnitus creates a threat response: the brain interprets the constant noise as a signal requiring attention and vigilance. Over time, this sustained hypervigilance produces the same physiological patterns as generalised anxiety disorder.

When building the evidence for this claim, the psychiatric report should describe the nature of the anxiety, how the tinnitus specifically contributes to the symptom picture, and how the anxiety developed in the context of the tinnitus. The more clearly the treating clinician documents the relationship, the stronger the evidence for the SoP factor.

What clinical evidence you need

GARP M assessment for anxiety

Anxiety disorders are assessed under GARP M Chapter 4 (Emotional and Behavioural). The tables are the same as for PTSD and depression: subjective distress (Table 4.1) plus manifest distress (Table 4.2) plus the three highest ratings from Tables 4.3 to 4.8 (functional effects, occupation, domestic situation, social interaction, leisure activities and current therapy), added together. There are no fixed 10-point steps.

A moderate generalised anxiety disorder with significant occupational and social impairment can produce a rating of 20 to 30 points. That psychiatric rating combines with your tinnitus rating through the combined values chart (Chapter 18). If you also have accepted depression, it is rated together with the anxiety in the same Chapter 4 rating, not as a second rating.

Claiming anxiety and depression together

Many veterans with tinnitus will have presentations that include both anxiety and depression. These are separate conditions with separate SoPs, but for permanent impairment they share one assessment under GARP M Chapter 4.

If your psychiatrist or clinical psychologist diagnoses both generalised anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder as distinct conditions, both can be claimed. DVA does not treat them as the same condition for liability, and each has its own liability assessment. For permanent impairment, GARP M 2026 gives one final rating for any combination of psychiatric conditions, so accepted anxiety and depression are rated together. Having both accepted makes sure that one rating reflects all your symptoms.

The full tinnitus cascade

If your tinnitus is accepted, the following secondary conditions may all be claimable through separate SoP factors:

Getting each condition accepted matters for treatment and for making sure your assessment reflects everything you live with. But do not count on each one adding its own points. Anxiety and depression share one Chapter 4 rating, and GARP M 2026 has no table for insomnia; interference with sleep is counted in your lifestyle rating instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim anxiety secondary to tinnitus if my service is peacetime only?

Not through tinnitus alone. The direct tinnitus factor (9(15)) is only in the RH SoP, and the BoP version has no tinnitus factor. A peacetime veteran would need another BoP factor, such as persistent pain of at least six months or another clinically significant mental health condition in the five years before onset.

My tinnitus was accepted years ago. Can I still lodge the anxiety claim now?

Yes. There is no time limit on secondary claims. What matters is that the tinnitus was present at the time of clinical onset of the anxiety disorder, not when the tinnitus was accepted.

Do I need a new audiologist report if I already have one from a depression claim?

Not necessarily. If your existing report confirms that your tinnitus requires a masking device or causes loss of concentration, and it is reasonably current, it can support the anxiety claim as well. DVA accepts audiologist reports up to three years old, provided they address the relevant severity criteria.

I've been told I have anxiety but haven't seen a psychiatrist. Is a GP diagnosis enough?

Possibly. Since 2025, DVA accepts a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder from your treating GP or treating clinical psychologist for the liability stage. If your GP has not formally diagnosed it, ask them to, or ask for a referral. A Mental Health Care Plan under Medicare can facilitate that referral.

Can DVA accept anxiety and PTSD as separate conditions?

Yes. PTSD and anxiety disorders are distinct diagnoses under DSM-5-TR. A veteran can have both, and if a psychiatrist confirms separate diagnoses, both can be claimed. For permanent impairment they are rated together in one Chapter 4 rating.