★ Auditory
Hearing Loss VA Rating
38 CFR § 4.85, Diagnostic Code 6100
Overview
VA uses two numbers from the audiology exam: average pure-tone threshold (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 Hz) and Maryland CNC word recognition percentage.
Each ear gets a Roman numeral from Table VI (or VIa for exceptional patterns), and the two are combined in Table VII for the final rating.
Hearing aids do not change the rating — VA uses unaided thresholds.
In Depth
Hearing loss is one of the few conditions VA evaluates through a fixed mechanical formula. 38 CFR § 4.85 directs that evaluations are derived from Table VI, which converts puretone threshold averages and speech discrimination percentages into a Roman numeral designation for each ear, and Table VII, which converts the two ear designations into a percentage.
38 CFR § 3.385 sets the threshold for when hearing loss is considered a disability for VA purposes: auditory thresholds of 40 decibels or greater at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 Hz; thresholds of 26 decibels or greater for at least three of those frequencies; or speech recognition scores using the Maryland CNC test of less than 94 percent.
38 CFR § 4.86 provides for exceptional patterns of hearing impairment — where puretone thresholds at 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz are each 55 decibels or more, or where the threshold is 30 decibels or less at 1000 Hz and 70 decibels or more at 2000 Hz — allowing use of Table VIA in specified circumstances.
Because the formula is mechanical, the audiogram itself controls the outcome. 38 CFR § 4.85(a) requires that examinations be conducted by a state-licensed audiologist and include a controlled speech discrimination test (Maryland CNC) and a puretone audiometry test, without the use of hearing aids during testing.
How to Establish Service Connection
- Tied to in-service noise exposure (same MOS-based logic as tinnitus).
- Hearing loss may not appear until years after separation — delayed onset is recognized.
Rating Criteria
Paraphrased from 38 CFR § 4.85, Diagnostic Code 6100
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Mild loss bilaterally — the most common outcome even with documented hearing damage. |
| 10%–100% | Calculated from Tables VI and VII based on pure-tone average and speech discrimination. See the Hearing Calculator tool. |
See what each percentage pays in 2026 and how it combines with your current rating →
Evidence Checklist
- VA Audiology C&P exam (must be performed by a state-licensed audiologist).
- Maryland CNC speech recognition test (not other word lists).
- Pure-tone audiometry at 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 Hz.
Evidence Templates
Common formats of evidence the VA looks for in this type of claim. These describe what the documents typically include — they are not legal forms or medical opinions, and Oakridge Claims does not draft them.
Audiogram with Maryland CNC speech discrimination
Puretone thresholds at 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz plus a controlled speech discrimination score, performed by a state-licensed audiologist per 38 CFR § 4.85(a).
Service personnel records showing noise exposure
DD-214, MOS documentation, and duty assignment records relevant to VA's noise-exposure probability framework for the claimed military occupation.
In-service audiograms / hearing conservation records
Entrance, periodic, and separation audiograms that may document threshold shifts during service.
Evidence VA Commonly Cites in These Claims
Descriptive summary of evidence types frequently referenced in rating decisions for this condition. Not a checklist of actions to take — every claim is decided on its own facts.
- ★An audiogram meeting the § 4.85(a) requirements — state-licensed audiologist, Maryland CNC speech discrimination, puretone audiometry, no hearing aids in use — is the document the formula is applied to. Private audiograms that omit Maryland CNC scores cannot be run through Table VI.
- ★Records showing in-service noise exposure — MOS, duty assignments, hearing conservation program enrollment, or in-service audiograms showing threshold shifts — are what the service-connection element is evaluated on.
- ★Tinnitus is evaluated separately under DC 6260 in 38 CFR § 4.87 and is not part of the hearing-loss formula.
- ★38 CFR § 3.303(d) permits service connection for a disease diagnosed after service where the evidence establishes it was incurred in service, which is the framework applied when hearing loss is first measured years after discharge (see also Hensley v. Brown).
Common pitfalls VA sees
- Submitting a private audiogram without Maryland CNC speech discrimination scores, which the § 4.85 tables require.
- Expecting significant hearing difficulty to translate into a high percentage — the tables are mechanical and frequently produce low or zero-percent evaluations even with measurable loss.
- Wearing hearing aids during testing, which § 4.85(a) directs against for rating examinations.
- Assuming a normal audiogram at separation forecloses service connection, when § 3.303(d) addresses post-service diagnosis.
Common Secondary Conditions
Conditions frequently service-connected as secondary to Hearing Loss:
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful Tools & Topics
Have a Hearing Loss claim or denial?
Four fields. A VA-accredited claims agent reviews it and responds within 3–5 business days. Contingent fees apply only to awarded past-due benefits on appeals — never on initial claims.
Requesting a consultation does not create representation and is not a guarantee of any outcome. Representation begins only after a written fee agreement and VA Form 21-22a are signed.
Educational content only — not legal advice and not medical advice. Rating criteria on this page are summarized in plain English from 38 CFR Part 4; consult VA.gov or the current Code of Federal Regulations for official criteria. This page provides general education about how the VA rates this condition; it is not individualized advice, does not establish a representation relationship, and should not be used to self-diagnose, self-treat, or decide a course of action without speaking to a qualified clinician and a VA-accredited representative. Outcomes depend on each veteran's individual facts, evidence, and the adjudicator's judgment; no specific rating, effective date, or other result is guaranteed. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.