For veterans suffering from impaired hearing, understanding the VA disability rating for hearing loss is essential for obtaining benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers disability benefits to veterans whose service-related injuries have turned into lasting health problems.
Hearing loss is one of the most commonly claimed conditions, and it makes sense why. Service members are regularly exposed to loud noise and physical forces most people never encounter, so hearing damage is extremely common.
The VA does provide compensation for hearing loss, but the amount depends on how severe your hearing problems are. It’s also important to understand that the VA measures hearing loss differently than most civilian doctors. Even if your regular doctor says you have hearing loss, the VA still requires its own tests before it will award disability benefits.
What Is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss can show up in a variety of everyday situations. Common signs include:
- Having trouble hearing consonants
- Struggling to understand people when there’s background noise
- Feeling like speech and sounds are muffled
- Turning the TV or radio up higher than before
- Avoiding restaurants, gatherings, or other noisy places
- Asking people to repeat themselves or speak more clearly
- Pulling away from conversations because it’s too hard to keep up
Doctors use these symptoms to help diagnose hearing loss, but the type of hearing loss matters too. There are three main types:
Conductive Hearing Loss
Sound can’t get through the outer or middle ear. This type is sometimes treatable with medication or surgery.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This is the most common form of permanent hearing loss. It’s caused by damage to the inner ear or the nerves that connect to the brain. It can’t be reversed, but hearing aids often help.
Mixed Hearing Loss
A combination of both conductive and sensorineural issues.
Even though the causes differ, the symptoms are usually similar across all types.
How Common Is Hearing Loss Among Veterans?
Hearing loss becomes more common with age. In the U.S., about one-third of people ages 65 to 75 experience some hearing loss. After 75, that number jumps to around half.
Among veterans, hearing problems are even more widespread. More than a million veterans receive VA disability compensation for hearing loss, and the real number of those who struggle with hearing issues is likely much higher.
Hearing loss can be mild, severe, or anywhere in between. The symptoms often look the same, but the cause can help show how serious the problem is.
There are many parts of military life that put veterans at risk for hearing problems. Some of the most common include:
- Gunfire, explosions, and heavy weapons: Repeated exposure to loud blasts can damage the small nerve cells inside the ear or even rupture the eardrum. This kind of noise is one of the biggest causes of long-term hearing issues.
- Engines and machinery: Working around aircraft, vehicles, generators, or other loud equipment for long periods can slowly wear down your hearing over time.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Head injuries from combat or training accidents can affect the nerves that control hearing, leading to hearing loss.
- Ear infections or abnormal growths: While deployed, limited access to medical care can allow ear infections or other ear-related issues to get worse and cause lasting damage.
If a veteran’s hearing problems started in service or were made worse because of service, they can file a VA disability claim. If approved, the VA may assign a disability rating and provide monthly compensation for hearing loss.
Filing VA Hearing Loss Claims
Because hearing loss claims are so common, the VA is strict about how they evaluate them. To get disability benefits, you must first qualify as a veteran with a current disability, and then show that your hearing loss is connected to your time in service.
Eligibility Requirements
To be approved for VA disability benefits for hearing loss, you must show three things:
- A current hearing loss diagnosis from a qualified medical professional
- Proof of an in-service event that caused or contributed to your hearing loss (such as noise exposure)
- A medical nexus – a doctor’s opinion stating your hearing loss is linked to your service
While many doctors can diagnose hearing problems, the VA requires more specific testing.
Required VA Hearing Tests
A basic exam from your regular doctor is not enough for the VA to accept your claim. The VA requires your hearing to be tested by a licensed audiologist, using two specific tests:
Puretone Audiometric Test
You’ll wear headphones and raise your hand when you hear tones at different pitches and volumes. This measures the faintest sounds you can detect.
Maryland CNC Test
This test includes a 50-word list that measures how clearly you can understand speech. This score plays a big role in determining your VA disability rating for hearing loss.
Without these two tests, the VA will not grant a rating for hearing loss, even if you clearly struggle with hearing.
How the VA Disability Rating for Hearing Loss Works
The VA uses a rating system from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. Your overall disability rating reflects how much your service-connected conditions interfere with your daily life.
VA Ratings for Hearing Loss
Hearing loss ratings are determined by a table that uses:
- Your Puretone Audiometric Test results
- Your Maryland CNC speech discrimination score
These scores are placed on a grid, and where the two values meet determines your disability percentage.
The maximum VA disability rating for hearing loss is 100%, but that level is extremely rare. Most veterans receive 10%, because the ratings are based strictly on test results with very little room for interpretation.
Even so, the VA does allow additional evidence, such as statements from family members or coworkers, to support your case and help explain how your hearing loss affects your daily life.
One of the best ways to determine your VA disability rating for hearing loss is to meet with a VA-accredited disability claims attorney at VetLaw. We can guide you through this complex process and help you pursue the benefits you deserve.
Bilateral Hearing Loss and Compensation
Bilateral hearing loss means hearing loss in both ears, and it can lead to a higher VA disability rating for hearing loss. Years ago, VA rules only allowed additional compensation if a veteran was completely deaf in both ears. The Veterans Benefits Act of 2002 changed that. Now, veterans with service-connected hearing loss in one ear may receive additional compensation if the other ear also has hearing loss, even if the second ear’s hearing loss is not related to service.
If your hearing in the second ear worsens after your initial claim, you may be able to request an increased VA disability rating for hearing loss.
Talk to a VA-Accredited Attorney About Your Hearing Loss for FREE
VetLaw offers unparalleled legal support to veterans navigating the VA appeals process. Being denied veteran disability for tinnitus or hearing loss is not the end of the road. You have options to further pursue your case and secure VA disability benefits.
Contact VetLaw today online or at (855) 651-1522 for a FREE case evaluation.
