Hearing Loss VA Disability Ratings & Claims Guide
Last updated: September 2026
Hearing loss is one of the most common things veterans bring home from service, and one of the most confusing to claim. Many of us spent years around engines, weapons, generators, or aircraft. Now we're asking people to repeat themselves, or turning the TV up until our spouse leaves the room. When VA finally decides the claim, a lot of veterans get a 0% rating and feel like VA didn't believe them.
In most cases, VA believed you just fine. VA rates hearing loss with a mechanical formula that turns your hearing test numbers into a percentage. Once you understand that formula, a 0% rating makes more sense, and you can see which parts of your claim you can actually improve. This guide covers how VA defines and rates hearing loss, how to get it service connected, what the exam involves, why claims get denied, and which related conditions are worth a closer look.
Hearing Loss at a Glance
Diagnostic code: Hearing loss is rated under Diagnostic Code 6100. The rules are in 38 CFR § 4.85, with special rules for unusual hearing patterns in § 4.86. Related ear conditions, including tinnitus, fall under § 4.87.
Rating percentages: 0% through 100%, in 10% steps. Your percentage comes from where your test results land on VA's hearing tables, not from a written description of symptoms.
Common paths to service connection: Direct service connection based on noise exposure during service, and secondary service connection, most often tied to a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Key evidence: An audiogram from a state-licensed audiologist with puretone thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz, plus a Maryland CNC speech discrimination score. You also need records of your in-service noise exposure and a medical opinion linking the two.
Main exam: A VA audiology exam, usually documented on the Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ). It's done without your hearing aids.
Official criteria: Read the full rating criteria on eCFR.
How the VA Defines Hearing Loss
VA rates hearing loss under 38 CFR Part 4, Subpart B, which covers "Impairment of Auditory Acuity." Auditory acuity just means how well you hear. This section of the rating schedule sits in the ear and sense organs part of VA's rules.
Before VA can service connect hearing loss, your hearing has to count as a disability under VA's own definition. That definition is in 38 CFR § 3.385, and it's stricter than what many doctors would call hearing loss. As quoted in a Board of Veterans' Appeals decision, impaired hearing counts as a disability for VA purposes when:
Any one frequency is 40 dB or worse. The auditory threshold at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 Hertz is 40 decibels or greater, or
Three frequencies are 26 dB or worse. At least three of those five frequencies are 26 decibels or greater, or
Your speech score is below 94%. Your speech recognition score on the Maryland CNC test is less than 94 percent.
A decibel (dB) threshold is the quietest sound you can hear at a given pitch. Higher numbers mean worse hearing. So if your audiologist tells you that you have "mild hearing loss," you may or may not meet VA's definition. It depends on the exact numbers.
How the test is done matters just as much as the results. The same Board decision explains that an audiogram given by a state-licensed audiologist is the only type of evidence VA treats as competent to show hearing impairment. A hearing app, a screening booth at a retail store, or a quick check by your primary care doctor won't establish the diagnosis on its own.
VA also tests you unaided, meaning without hearing aids. That surprises a lot of veterans. You may hear well with your aids in, but VA rates the hearing you have without them.
Practical takeaway: Get a copy of your actual audiogram, not just a summary, and compare the numbers to the three § 3.385 tests above before you file.
How the VA Rates Hearing Loss
Most VA conditions are rated on symptoms, like how often you have flare-ups or how far you can bend. Hearing loss works differently. It's pure math. The examiner's notes about how hard your life has become don't change the percentage. The numbers on your audiogram do.
Here's how the formula works, based on § 4.85:
VA calculates your puretone threshold average for each ear. It adds your thresholds at 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz and divides by four. The 500 Hertz result counts for the § 3.385 disability test but isn't part of this average.
VA assigns each ear a Roman numeral. Using Table VI, VA combines your puretone average with your Maryland CNC speech score to give each ear a level from I to XI. Level I means essentially normal hearing, and Level XI means profound deafness.
VA finds your percentage on Table VII. The row is your better ear and the column is your poorer ear. Your rating is where the two meet. In one Board decision, for example, a Level VII ear combined with a Level VIII ear produced a 40% rating.
Because both ears feed into one table, bilateral hearing loss produces a single rating, not a separate rating for each ear.
Exceptional Patterns of Hearing Loss
Some hearing patterns don't fit the standard tables well, so § 4.86 gives them special treatment. If your threshold is 55 dB or worse at all four frequencies (1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz), VA must use Table VI or Table VIa, whichever gives you the higher numeral. A second pattern involves 30 dB or better at 1000 Hertz combined with 70 dB or worse at 2000 Hertz. The full rule is on eCFR.
You don't have to ask for this. The rater is supposed to apply it automatically. Still, check your decision letter. If your numbers fit one of these patterns and the letter doesn't mention § 4.86, that's worth raising.
When Only One Ear Is Service Connected
If VA service connects only one ear, § 4.85(f) sets a special rule for computing your rating that accounts for the non-service-connected ear.
Rating Levels in Plain Language
Since there's no written description for each level, here's the plain version:
| Rating | What it generally means |
|---|---|
| 0% | Your hearing loss is service connected, but your test results don't yet reach a paying level on VA's tables. |
| 10% to 30% | Your measured hearing loss in one or both ears has reached a compensable level on VA's formula. |
| 40% to 60% | Your puretone averages and speech scores show significant hearing impairment, usually in both ears. |
| 70% to 90% | Your test results show severe hearing impairment in both ears. |
| 100% | Your test results show the most severe level of hearing impairment VA's tables recognize. |
Read the full rating criteria on eCFR.
Hearing loss and tinnitus are rated separately. As CCK Law explains, tinnitus is rated under § 4.87 as Diagnostic Code 6260, while hearing loss uses the § 4.85 tables. Because they're different conditions under different codes, getting both doesn't count as double-rating the same symptom. For how your hearing rating combines with your other ratings and what it pays, see my post on how VA combines multiple ratings and calculates your monthly pay.
Getting Hearing Loss Service Connected
Service connection means VA agrees your condition is tied to your military service. If you want the basics first, my guide on how service connection works walks through the general rules. Here's how they apply to hearing loss.
Direct Service Connection
Most hearing loss claims are direct claims. You need three things:
A current disability. A qualifying audiogram that meets the § 3.385 definition.
An in-service event. For hearing loss, that's usually noise exposure: working a flightline, turning wrenches in a motor pool, qualifying on ranges, firing artillery, or maintaining aircraft and heavy equipment.
A nexus. A nexus is a medical opinion linking your current hearing loss to that noise exposure. VA's standard is "at least as likely as not," which means a 50% chance or better.
Your service treatment records often include hearing tests from entry, periodic exams, and separation. Compare them. A worsening between your first and last test can help your case. If your hearing looked normal at separation, don't assume you're out of luck. The nexus opinion is where that question gets addressed, which I cover in the denial section below.
If you served in combat, VA may give added weight to your own statement about noise exposure when it's consistent with the circumstances of your service.
Secondary Service Connection
A secondary condition is one caused or worsened by a condition that's already service connected. For hearing problems, the most common link is a service-connected TBI.
One pattern to know about is central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). With CAPD, your puretone thresholds can look fairly normal, but you do very poorly on the Maryland CNC speech test. The problem is in how your brain processes sound, not in your ears. CAPD is often linked to TBI. To claim it secondary to TBI, you'll want a nexus letter from an audiologist or neurologist that specifically connects the CAPD to the brain injury.
Presumptive Service Connection
Hearing loss is not among the PACT Act presumptive conditions. For most veterans, the claim path will be direct or secondary rather than presumptive.
Evidence That Strengthens Your Claim
Hearing loss claims live or die on specific documents. Here's what to gather:
A complete audiogram. It should come from a state-licensed audiologist and include thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz in each ear, plus a Maryland CNC speech score. Private audiograms often skip the Maryland CNC or use a different speech test. If yours does, VA may not be able to use it for rating.
Proof of noise exposure. Your DD-214 shows your MOS, AFSC, or rating. Add anything that shows what you were around: flight logs, weapons qualification records, duty assignments, deployment orders, or training records.
Your service hearing tests. Pull every audiogram from your service treatment records, including entrance and separation exams.
Buddy statements. Someone who worked the flightline next to you, or a spouse who noticed your hearing change after a deployment, can describe what they saw and heard. Use VA Form 21-10210 for these statements.
Your own statement. Describe the noise, how often you were around it, what hearing protection you had (or didn't), and when you first noticed problems. Then describe daily life now: missing parts of conversations at work, struggling on the phone, or avoiding restaurants because you can't follow what people say.
A strong nexus letter. If your service records don't show a hearing shift, a private audiologist or ENT can explain why your hearing loss is still at least as likely as not related to your noise exposure. The letter should show the provider reviewed your records and explain the reasoning.
For more on finding records and working with providers, see my post on how to gather medical evidence for your claim.
What to Expect at Your C&P Exam
A C&P exam is a medical appointment VA orders to decide your claim. For hearing loss, the exam must be done by a state-licensed audiologist. Under § 4.85, it has to include two tests:
Puretone audiometry. You'll sit in a sound booth wearing headphones and signal when you hear tones at different pitches and volumes. This produces your threshold at each frequency.
The Maryland CNC speech test. You'll hear a list of words and repeat them back. Your score is the percentage you get right.
Both tests are done without hearing aids. Take them out when the audiologist asks, and don't strain to guess at sounds you aren't sure you heard. Respond honestly to what you actually hear.
The examiner will usually be recording results on VA's Hearing Loss and Tinnitus DBQ, a standard form VA publishes online. Reading it beforehand shows you exactly what the examiner has to document. The examiner should also describe how your hearing loss affects your daily life and work, so be ready to give specific examples.
If your claim involves a nexus question, the examiner may also give an opinion on whether your hearing loss is related to service. For scheduling, contractor, and rescheduling details, read my post on what to expect at your C&P exam.
Common Reasons Hearing Loss Claims Are Denied
Some of these problems apply to any claim. For a broader look, see the most common reasons VA claims get denied. These are the ones I see most with hearing loss:
Your audiogram doesn't meet § 3.385. You may have real hearing trouble, but if no frequency hits 40 dB, fewer than three hit 26 dB, and your Maryland CNC score is 94% or higher, VA doesn't count it as a disability yet. If your hearing gets worse later, you can file again with a new audiogram.
The evidence isn't the kind VA accepts. Home tests, apps, retail screenings, and tests not given by a licensed audiologist won't establish the diagnosis.
No nexus. VA may accept that you were around noise and that you have hearing loss, and still deny the claim because it doesn't find the two connected. That usually comes down to a negative medical opinion.
"No threshold shift in service." Some C&P examiners deny because your hearing didn't measurably change before you got out, or they say delayed-onset noise-induced hearing loss isn't supported. As Goodman Allen Donnelly explains, you can answer this with a private audiologist or ENT nexus letter that addresses that specific rationale head-on.
An incomplete or outdated exam. According to Avard Law, problems include audiograms missing a required frequency or the Maryland CNC score, examiners skipping speech testing without a good explanation, and VA relying on an old exam after your hearing has worsened. If any of these happened, you may be able to request a new exam through a decision review.
A 0% Rating Isn't a Denial
This one deserves its own spot. A lot of veterans read "0%" and assume they lost. They didn't. A 0% rating means VA agreed your hearing loss is service connected. Because the rating comes straight from the tables, most mild to moderate hearing loss lands at 0%.
That service connection is a win you can build on. If your hearing gets worse, you can file for an increase with a new audiogram instead of proving service connection all over again.
Practical takeaway: Read your decision letter for the specific reason, then check your audiogram numbers against the rules above. That tells you whether you need new evidence, a new exam, or just a better understanding of how the math worked.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Hearing Loss
Hearing problems rarely travel alone. These conditions are often claimed alongside hearing loss or connected to it:
Tinnitus. Ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears is often claimed with hearing loss. It's rated separately under Diagnostic Code 6260, so make sure you claim both if you have both.
Meniere's syndrome. This inner ear disorder combines hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. Vertigo episodes can be severe enough to keep you from driving or working, so document how often they happen and how long they last.
CAPD. As covered above, CAPD can be claimed secondary to a service-connected TBI with a nexus letter from an audiologist or neurologist.
Hyperacusis. Extreme sensitivity to everyday sounds is common after blast-related TBI, often alongside hearing loss and tinnitus.
Sleep and mental health conditions. Constant symptoms can wear you down. Some veterans develop insomnia, anxiety, or depression tied to their hearing loss and tinnitus. These can be claimed as secondary conditions with a medical opinion linking them.
Hearing loss itself is also often secondary to other conditions, especially TBI. If you have a service-connected TBI and your hearing changed after the injury, ask your provider whether the two are related.
When TDIU May Apply
TDIU, or Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability, lets VA pay you at the 100% rate if your service-connected conditions keep you from holding a substantially gainful job, even if your combined rating is lower.
Under 38 CFR § 4.16(a), the schedular requirements are:
One condition rated 60% or higher, or
Two or more conditions, with at least one rated 40% or higher and a combined rating of 70% or higher.
Hearing loss and tinnitus alone rarely meet those numbers. Tinnitus tops out at 10%, and most hearing loss ratings are well below 60%. As Hill & Ponton notes, a higher total usually comes from combining these conditions with others, like Meniere's disease or severe hearing loss.
It can happen, though. In one Board decision, the judge found a veteran couldn't secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation because of the limits from his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. Think about jobs that depend on phone work, customer conversations, or hearing warning signals on a job site.
If you don't meet the schedular numbers but your service-connected conditions still keep you from working, § 4.16(b) allows extraschedular TDIU. As one Board decision explains, those claims get sent to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration. Evidence from employers, vocational experts, and your own work history carries a lot of weight here.
Conclusion
VA's hearing loss formula can feel cold. It doesn't care how many times you've asked your kids to repeat themselves. But that same formula is predictable. Once you know which numbers matter, you can see exactly why you got the rating you did and what could change it.
Start with a complete audiogram from a state-licensed audiologist that includes all five frequencies and a Maryland CNC score. Gather proof of your noise exposure and your service hearing tests, and ask someone who served with you, or lives with you, for a statement. A VA-accredited VSO is a good first stop for help putting your claim together, and their help is free.
Wondering how this applies to your condition? Every veteran's situation is a little different. Schedule a free consultation to talk through what you've read and get connected with a VSO who can help with your claim.