Disability ratings for hearing loss provide a standardized, quantifiable measure of auditory impairment for compensation purposes. The system primarily used in the United States is administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and is codified under the Schedule for Rating Disabilities (38 CFR Part 4). This rating determines eligibility for service-connected compensation and benefits based on the severity of hearing function loss. The assigned percentage reflects the degree to which the impairment affects daily life, ranging from 0% to 100%. The final percentage is derived from objective medical evidence, not subjective complaints alone.
The Required Medical Tests
The formal evaluation requires two specific diagnostic tests conducted by a state-licensed audiologist during a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination. These tests must be performed in a sound-isolated booth meeting American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. The examination must be conducted without hearing aids to capture the full extent of the unaided impairment.
The first test is Pure Tone Audiometry, which measures the softest sound an individual can hear at specific frequencies. The VA mandates testing at 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 Hertz (Hz) for each ear to determine the Pure Tone Threshold Average (PTA). The PTA quantifies the degree of sensitivity loss.
The second test is the controlled speech discrimination test, known as the Maryland CNC (Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant) test. This evaluation assesses the ability to recognize and understand spoken words in a quiet environment. The audiologist presents a recorded list of 50 phonetically balanced words, and the resulting score is the percentage of words correctly identified. Both the PTA and the Maryland CNC score are necessary for the official calculation.
How the Disability Percentage is Calculated
The calculation mechanism translates the two audiometric test results into a single disability percentage. The process uses the Pure Tone Threshold Average and the Speech Discrimination Score for each ear to determine a Roman numeral designation (I to XI) using Table VI of the VA’s rating schedule. Each ear receives its own Roman numeral, signifying the degree of impairment. If the speech discrimination score is 92% or higher, the calculation defaults to a method using only the pure tone average (Table VIa), as excellent speech recognition suggests the loss is not functionally disabling.
Once the Roman numerals for the better and worse ear are determined, they are plotted on a final table, yielding the combined bilateral hearing loss percentage. This percentage is the final disability rating for the hearing loss condition itself. It is then rounded to the nearest compensable increment of 10% (e.g., 0%, 10%, or 20%). The rating is based on the combined functional loss of both ears.
Ratings for Associated Conditions
Conditions frequently claimed alongside hearing loss are rated separately under their own diagnostic criteria, even if related to the same noise exposure incident. Tinnitus is the most common associated condition.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus, characterized by a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, is consistently rated at a standard 10% disability percentage. This rating applies regardless of subjective severity because its symptoms cannot be objectively measured using audiometric tests. The 10% rating for tinnitus is combined with the hearing loss rating using VA math rules, which are non-additive, to determine the overall combined rating.
Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disorder causing episodes of vertigo, is evaluated on a different scale entirely. It is rated under a separate diagnostic code (6205) and can receive a rating of 30%, 60%, or 100%. The percentage depends on the frequency and severity of symptoms, specifically attacks of vertigo and the presence of cerebellar gait. Although Meniere’s disease often involves hearing loss, its rating is primarily driven by the debilitating balance issues.
Navigating the Claims Process
Securing a disability rating begins with establishing a service connection, which requires three elements: a current medical diagnosis, evidence of an event or injury during service, and a medical nexus linking the two. The medical nexus is a professional opinion stating that the condition is at least as likely as not due to the service event. Without this link, the claim cannot proceed to the rating stage.
After filing the claim, the applicant is scheduled for the mandatory Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination, which includes the required audiometric tests. The examiner documents the findings on a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), the official form used to report the severity of the impairment. Accurate documentation from the C&P exam is the most significant factor in determining the final percentage. The VA reviews all collected evidence, including service records, medical reports, and the C&P exam results, to issue a final rating decision.