Tinnitus affects up to 30% of military veterans, twice the rate of nonveterans.¹ It also is the most common disability for veterans related to their service.¹ Though the exact cause of tinnitus — the specific mechanism that generates phantom sounds in some people — remains unknown, contributing factors and triggers have been identified. Excessive exposure to loud noise is one of the most common culprits, so it isn’t surprising that many members of the armed forces suffer from tinnitus. Even a single exposure at such high levels can be enough to cause a permanent case of subjective tinnitus, the most common form of the condition.
