How to Get a Hearing Loss VA Rating

Losing the ability to hear and understand words clearly can significantly impact your quality of life.  Communicating with loved ones, enjoying a movie, and functioning at work can become more difficult. Due to occupational hazards, hearing loss is one of the most common service-connected conditions among veterans. This article explains how veterans can get a hearing loss VA rating, and how some veterans with hearing loss can qualify for special monthly compensation. 

Veterans and hearing loss

Hearing loss among veterans is prevalent. In fiscal year 2022, the VA reported that more than 1.4 million veterans received disability compensation for hearing loss, and more than 2.7 million veterans received compensation for tinnitus. 

The CDC found male veterans are more likely to have moderate trouble hearing and more likely to have a lot of hearing difficulty or to be deaf than their non-veteran counterparts. They were also found to be significantly less likely to have excellent or good hearing. 

Veterans with hearing loss may have been exposed during service to: 

• Blast exposure
• Exposure to arms fire
• Mechanical work like vehicles and aircrafts
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Other military noise exposure from tanks and heavy equipment

Today, hearing loss and tinnitus are the two of the three most common service connected disabilities among veterans. 

Types of hearing loss

There are three main types of hearing loss. 

Conductive hearing loss occurs when the eardrum and middle ear structures are damaged. This type can be reversed through surgery or medication. 

Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ear and auditory nerve. This type of hearing loss is permanent, but is often treated with the use of hearing aids. 

A third type of hearing loss is a mix of both conductive and sensorineural hearing problems. 

Any type of hearing loss may be eligible for VA disability compensation as long as it is service connected.

VA DBQ for hearing loss

The VA disability benefit questionnaire (DBQ) for hearing loss is a form used to collect medical evidence about your condition from your health care providers. The information on your DBQ is meant to help the VA better understand your diagnosis and support your claim. DBQ’s should be filled out by a healthcare provider.

Included in the form are questions about your diagnosis, medical history, symptoms, prior surgeries, test results, and a summary of how your hearing disability has impacted your life. 

The DBQ for hearing loss also contains separate sections on infectious and inflammatory ear conditions as well as vestibular conditions. The physical exam portion of the DBQ looks at the different areas of the veteran’s ear and how their condition affects their gait, limb coordination, and more. Finally, the healthcare provider is given space to make any notes about how the veteran’s hearing loss impacts their ability to work.

Hearing loss VA rating

Once you’ve submitted your claim for hearing loss disability benefits, the VA will review your case.

VA hearing loss ratings can range between noncompensable (0%) and total (100%). Many hearing disabilities are rated at 0% or 10%, but for more severe cases, a higher rating is possible. 

Whether you have hearing loss in one or both ears, the VA can evaluate either ear separately or together as one rating. 

In order to get a hearing loss VA rating, you’ll need to get the results of two hearing tests from a state-licensed audiologist: 

• Controlled speech discrimination test (Maryland CNC) – Scores how well you recognize speech.
• Puretone Audiometric Test – Determines your level of hearing loss by measuring the faintest tone you pick up on. 

Veterans will not typically need to find a private provider to do these tests. They will often be done at a veteran’s VA C&P exam for their hearing loss. 

How the VA uses the hearing loss ratings table

First, using Table VI below, the VA takes the results from your hearing tests, and assigns a Roman numeral between I and XI. 

This numeral is based on the results of the CNC and the Puretone tests. The numeral you are assigned is located at the point where the two intersect. This is done for both ears, leaving the veteran with two Roman numerals representing the amount of hearing loss in each ear.

Table VI

Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based on Puretone Threshold Average and Speech Discrimination

Puretone Threshold Average

% of Discriminiation	0-41	42-49	50-57	58-65	66-73	74-81	82-89	90-97	98+
92-100	I	I	I	II	II	II	III	III	IV
84-90	II	II	II	III	III	III	IV	IV	IV
76-82	III	III	IV	IV	IV	V	V	V	V
68-74	IV	IV	V	V	VI	VI	VII	VII	VII
60-66	V	V	VI	VI	VII	VII	VIII	VIII	VIII
52-58	VI	VI	VII	VII	VIII	VIII	VIII	VIII	IX
44-50	VII	VII	VIII	VIII	VIII	IX	IX	IX	X
36-42	VIII	VIII	VIII	IX	IX	IX	X	X	X
0-34	IX	X	XI	XI	XI	XI	XI	XI	XI

Next, using Table VII below, the VA assigns hearing loss ratings by combining the Roman numeral designations for hearing impairment in each ear. 

The horizontal rows represent the ear with the better hearing and the vertical columns the ear with poorer hearing. The percentage evaluation is located where the row and column intersect.

If impaired hearing is service-connected in only one ear, the non-service-connected ear will be assigned a Roman Numeral designation for hearing impairment of I.

Table VII

Percentage Evaluation for Hearing Impairment (Diagnostic Code 6100)

Poorer Ear is across the horizontal choice, better ear is down the left side.

	XI	X	IX	VIII	VII	VI	V	IV	III	II	I
XI	100*
X	90	80
IX	80	70	60
VIII	70	60	50	50
VII	60	60	50	40	40
VI	50	50	40	40	30	30
V	40	40	40	30	30	20	20
IV	30	30	30	20	20	20	10	10
III	20	20	20	20	20	10	10	10	0
II	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	0	0	0
I	10	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	XI	X	IX	VIII	VII	VI	V	IV	III	II	I

VA hearing loss ratings can quickly become confusing. Veterans who need help with their hearing loss claims may benefit from seeking the help of a VSO or VA-accredited attorney.

SMC for hearing loss

Special monthly compensation (SMC) is additional compensation for circumstances related to a service-connected condition. SMC is payable for deafness of both ears and having absence of air and bone conduction in the ears.

VA disability lawyer Krystal Lechner explains, “SMC is a benefit set by federal statute, and it’s paid in addition to the rate that you receive under the disability compensation ratings. It results in a higher payment for the veteran with a severe disability or who falls into certain categories.”

“This additional money is intended to pay the veteran for the disability as well as the accommodations that they need to take care of their everyday needs.”

When evaluating any hearing loss claim, the VA is obligated to determine if the veteran is entitled to SMC due to deafness, or due to deafness in combination with another service connected disability.

Hearing loss and tinnitus VA disability

Tinnitus occurs when you hear ringing, roaring, or buzzing sounds that aren’t really there. 

Tinnitus can be caused by:

• Hearing loss
• Meniere’s disease
• Ear infection
• Ear canal blockage
• Certain medications including some antibiotics and antidepressants
• Head or neck injuries 

Many people with hearing loss also experience tinnitus, but it is possible to have one without the other. If you’re experiencing both, you may technically be eligible for both a tinnitus VA disability rating and a VA hearing loss rating. However, your tinnitus may also be treated as a symptom of the hearing loss rather than its own separate condition. This could increase your hearing loss compensation rather than being awarded a second rating for tinnitus. Remember, the VA pyramiding rule states veterans cannot get multiple ratings for the same symptom.

The maximum rating for tinnitus is 10%. 

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Hearing loss and related conditions

Hearing loss can lead to other residual conditions and complications.

These may include:

• Social isolation
• Brain atrophy
• Dementia
• Depression

On the other hand, hearing loss can be caused by conditions other than noise exposure and head injuries.

One study showed that people taking common chemotherapy drugs containing taxane and/or platinum for the treatment of certain cancers may be at a higher risk of hearing loss. Up to 40% of that same group of cancer survivors experienced tinnitus. 

Research also shows a link between heart disease and hearing loss. To maintain proper function, the ear needs sufficient blood flow. Evidence shows cardiovascular disease can reduce blood flow to the ear, causing damage to parts of the auditory system. This damage can lead to substantial sensorineural hearing loss. 

Patients with diabetes may also be more at risk of hearing loss. A recent study found that hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes than in those who don’t have diabetes. Although the exact reason diabetes relates to hearing loss is unknown, it’s possible that the high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels in the inner ear.    

If you have hearing loss that is the cause or the result of another service-connected disability, you may be eligible for increased compensation. 

How Woods and Woods can help

Woods and Woods has been fighting for people with injuries and disabilities since 1985. Our team of accredited VA disability lawyers, case managers, legal analysts, and intake specialists knows the ins and outs of the VA so you don’t have to do all the hard work. Call us today for your free and confidential case evaluation. 

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