Bilateral Hearing Loss VA Disability Claims and Ratings 10 Tinnitus is no laughing matter: It can make your life miserable and negatively impact your work, life, and social functioning. Each of these veterans benefits have different eligibility criteria so be What is Hearing Loss and Tinnitus in Veterans? Step 3: The VA uses Table VI, Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based on Puretone Threshold Average and Speech Discrimination to determine a Roman numeral designation for your level of hearing impairment. .wpdt-c .wpDataTablesWrapper table.wpDataTable thead th.sorting_desc, 0 A rating is assigned to the patient based on age and the degree of hearing damage. Could the VA be discriminating against people who have conductive loss as opposed to people who hear sounds but have have trouble hearing where sounds come from and hearing words that are very difficult to clearly understand? Youve lost the use of one foot, and have had one elbow amputated. First, you will need to schedule an examination with a hearing specialist that will perform a couple of different tests. If your spouse receives Aid and Attendance, you would also add $185.21(which is the added amount for a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance, for a Veteran with a SMC-L designation). Here are some frequently asked questions about VA disability for hearing loss: Service members are required to meet with a VA audiologist in order to diagnose a medical condition. Based on the rating, the veteran may receive special monthly compensation for deafness or another hearing loss disability. 40 . .wpdt-c.wpDataTablesWrapper table.wpdtSimpleTable thead tr > th{ border-right-color: rgba(5, 46, 102, 0.95) !important; } Current VA Disability Compensation Rates | Veterans Affairs We assign SMC levels based on very specific situations and combinations of situations, including: Select an SMC letter below to learn more about the specific situations and combinations of situations that fall within that designation. Getting VA Disability Benefits for Hearing Loss | CCK Law VA Hearing Loss Calculator and Ratings Guide - Hill & Ponton, P.A. Loss of both ears receives a rating of 50%, while loss of one ear receives a 30% rating. #8. You have total blindness with only the ability to perceive light in the other eye, and have deafness in both ears (rated as 30% or more disabling). The VA ratings are designed to examine each patient on a case by case basis for hearing impairment. You can also see certain survivor benefits. Disability ratings are based on specific hearing tests, therefore it is difficult for veterans to receive a rating for hearing loss higher than the one assigned to them on test results alone. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! .wpdt-c .wpDataTablesWrapper table.wpDataTable thead th.sorting_asc:after { A C&P exam for Tinnitus involves a series of verbal questions, to include a physical examination, and diagnostic testing (Audiogram by an Audiologist, even though Tinnitus cannot be detected). In our example of a Veteran with a SMC-L designation, your total monthly payment amount would be: $4,856.67(basic rate (1 spouse, 1 child)+ 100.34(second child under 18)+100.34(third child under 18)+ 324.12(1 child over 18, in a qualifying school program)+ 185.21(spouse who receives Aid and Attendance)Total $5,566.68. border-top-color: #FFFFFF !important; 20 30 Feeling like the world is spinning or bouncing up and down can have a terrible impact on your work and personal life. Visit the VAs eligibility for benefits webpage to read more about how to start a claim. Direct Service Connection means an in-service event, injury, or disease related to your military service caused you to develop Hearing Loss. Chronic exposure to loud noises and aging both contribute to hearing loss which is common in most adults 65 or older. Youve physically lost the other eye, and have deafness in both ears (rated as 30% or more disabling), You have total blindness without the ability to perceive light in the other eye, and have deafness in both ears (rated as 30% or more disabling), Youve lost the use of one foot (rated as 50% disabling). "Puretone threshold average," as used in Tables VI and VIa, is the sum of the puretone thresholds at 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hertz, divided by four. How Does The VA Rate Hearing Loss? - Veterans Help Group For example, if the puretone test result is 65, and the speech test result is 82%, then the Roman numeral for this ear would be IV. Youve lost of use of one hand, and have had one elbow amputated, Youve lost the use of one hand and of one elbow. Unfortunately, soldiers risk even more as many service members generally operate around incredibly loud, damaging sounds. Youve lost the use of one foot, and have had the other knee amputated. The starting presentation level will be 40 dB re SRT. With that said, you can take precautions by using hearing protection. Here's 3 Ways to Get VA Disability for Hearing Loss and Tinnitus March 8, 2022 0 Find the amount for children under age 18 ($100.34). The Ears Military Disability Made Easy IX Approximately 37.5 million Americans are affected by hearing loss, including more than half of those over the age of 75. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. #2: Secondary Service Connection for Hearing Loss with a VA rating of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%. VA Hearing Loss Claim Rating - Military Benefits There are 3 primary ways a veteran can get a VA disability rating for Hearing Loss: #1: Direct Service Connection for Hearing Loss with a rating of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%; however, the average VA rating for Hearing Loss is 10%, and many veterans have a 0% rating, if theyre lucky enough to get their Hearing Loss service connected. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 VI Youve lost the use of one foot and the use of one arm at the shoulder. 20 Parents Dependency and Indemnity Compensation rates Review current rates for VA DIC compensation for eligible surviving parents. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Business Development Representatives having gone through our programs. 10 65. . Perhaps you entered active duty service with minor Hearing Loss, but the military made it worse. The amendment is necessary to implement a statutory provision of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002, which will now factor in nonservice-connected hearing loss of one ear when hearing loss in the other ear is service connected and hearing loss manifests to a specified degree. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 First, find the Roman numeral for the ear that hears thebest(the one with the smaller Roman numeral), the VA calls this the better ear for VA rating purposes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that veterans are 30% more likely compared to civilians to have severe hearing impairment. The VA doesn't care about the whole range of your hearing loss when it rates your condition. The VA rates Tinnitus under CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260, Tinnitus, Recurrent. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 Level R may apply if you need daily help from another person for basic needs (like dressing, eating, and bathing). Table #3: Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based Only on Puretone Threshold Average (PTA) #10. Diagnostic Code 6100: Hearing Loss. If youre trying to increase your VA rating for Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, you need to prove to the VA that your symptoms are now worse and warrant the higher rating criteria by law. Not only is Hearing Loss one of the hardest conditions to get service connected, its also one of most difficult conditions to get rated above 0 percent. VA Ratings for Hearing Loss are based on the hearing ability of BOTH ears. Look down the left-hand side of the Table VI below to see what row you should be on. A VA C&P exam for Hearing Loss and Tinnitus involves a series of verbal questions, to include a physical examination, and diagnostic testing (Audiogram by an Audiologist). #11. Hearing problemsincluding tinnitus, a ringing in the earsis by far the most prevalent service-connected disability amongst veterans. For the purposes of applying the laws administered by VA, impaired hearing will be considered to be a disability when the auditory threshold in any of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 Hertz is 40 . Ask the veteran to describe in his or her own words the effects of Tinnitus (i.e., the current complaint on occupational functioning and daily activities). Total Hearing Loss VA Rating Veterans with total hearing loss in both ears are eligible for Special Monthly Compensation. The examinations are conducted without the use of hearing aids. #2. .wpdt-c .wpDataTablesWrapper table.wpDataTable thead th.sorting { Were Veterans helping Veterans Worldwide, and since 2016 weve helped 10,000+ Veterans just like you INCREASE their VA disability rating! Bone conduction thresholds are measured when the air conduction thresholds are poorer than 15 dB HL. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225
