Hearing Loss Percentages

[Deltawife]

I may be crazy....but I could swear that I read something a while back that stated if a Veteran was awarded a percentage for hearing loss that the VA has changed the rules to veterans getting additional increase on disability for each ear. (I hope that makes sense)

If you know anything about this please let me know.

Thanks in advance

Patt

[Veldrina]

nope, never heard of that. The exam they give u has to fit a certain criteria. if only one ear qualifies you can still be rated for hearing loss in that ear, but they dont give u anything additional for ears unless there;s an actual disease, like otitis media.

[stillhere]

I may be crazy....but I could swear that I read something a while back that stated if a Veteran was awarded a percentage for hearing loss that the VA has changed the rules to veterans getting additional increase on disability for each ear. (I hope that makes sense)

If you know anything about this please let me know.

Thanks in advance

Patt

Patt I do not understand what you are asking and I am real surprised that the other poster does.

I have hearing loss and each ear is evaluated and your hearing loss is based on your overall ability to hear if that is what you mean? In other words I am deaf or (can not test)in my right ear and my left ear is at 45 I think so the VA puts the 2 together to come up with a rating for hearing loss.

I can not be rated 100% for my left and say 40% for my right. They combine the two to rate you and an overall hearing loss %.

I hope I did not confuse you more. If you want the official jargon i can get it for you.

By the way if you have active and profound otis media 9which I had in Nam once) you will be rated totally separate for that.

Edited January 26, 2011 by stillhere

[Deltawife]

Patt I do not understand what you are asking and I am real surprised that the other poster does.

I have hearing loss and each ear is evaluated and your hearing loss is based on your overall ability to hear if that is what you mean? In other words I am deaf or (can not test)in my right ear and my left ear is at 45 I think so the VA puts the 2 together to come up with a rating for hearing loss.

I can not be rated 100% for my left and say 40% for my right. They combine the two to rate you and an overall hearing loss %.

I hope I did not confuse you more. If you want the official jargon i can get it for you.

By the way if you have active and profound otis media 9which I had in Nam once) you will be rated totally separate for that.

[Deltawife]

Thank you! It confirms, I'm crazy! It was hard to explain so I'm surprised anyone understood it as well.

[broncovet]

Deltawife

No, I dont think you are crazy. I think you are referring to a condition closely related to hearing loss, tinnitus, that is, ringing in the ears.

Tinnitus is, if SC and severe enough, is rated at 10%. That is, a Single 10%, not 10% for tinnitus for each ear. I am pretty sure there are some court cases pending which may allow tinnitus to be rated at 10% for EACH ear, if eligible, and not JUST one 10%, if the Veteran prevails in the court cases.

I dont think this future court ruling will affect hearing loss because, if you look at the hearing loss charts, both ears are rated. (the "poorer" ear). These court cases may possibly have already been decided, but I am not aware that they have.

The VA has "interpreted" the regulations on tinnitus to mean that only one single 10% evaluation may apply, regardless if the tinnitus is in both ears. Apparently the rationale is that ringing in the ears "comes from your head" and not from one ear or the other. I have tinnitus, and when I do have an episode, it is very unclear which "ear" it is coming from. In other words the ringing does not "stop" if I put a pillow over one ear, or both ears..it keeps on ringing.

However, sometimes my tinnitus DOES appear to originate from one ear or the other, such as when I hear a gunshot or other loud noise. My ears will often ring afterwards, and it usually starts from the ear closest to the loud noise, but then spreads to both ears.

I think there is such a thing as "trauma tinnitus", such as if a bomb exploded near one ear, but did not kill you, just traumatized your hearing. In at least that case, I think you could have tinnitus in one ear, but not the other. Of course, if the explosion was equal distance to both ears, then both ears could have "trauma tinitus". Altho some of what I am posting here is "conjecture", I think this is basically what is happening. I think one or more Vets are suing the VA for TWO 10% tinintus ratings, one for each ear. I do know that when I do have an episode of tinnitus, it can be very severe, literally driving you nuts, and often leading to migraines, depending upon how long an episode lasts. My tinnitus episodes vary in both degree and duration.

[Deltawife]

Deltawife

No, I dont think you are crazy. I think you are referring to a condition closely related to hearing loss, tinnitus, that is, ringing in the ears.

Tinnitus is, if SC and severe enough, is rated at 10%. That is, a Single 10%, not 10% for tinnitus for each ear. I am pretty sure there are some court cases pending which may allow tinnitus to be rated at 10% for EACH ear, if eligible, and not JUST one 10%, if the Veteran prevails in the court cases.

I dont think this future court ruling will affect hearing loss because, if you look at the hearing loss charts, both ears are rated. (the "poorer" ear). These court cases may possibly have already been decided, but I am not aware that they have.

The VA has "interpreted" the regulations on tinnitus to mean that only one single 10% evaluation may apply, regardless if the tinnitus is in both ears. Apparently the rationale is that ringing in the ears "comes from your head" and not from one ear or the other. I have tinnitus, and when I do have an episode, it is very unclear which "ear" it is coming from. In other words the ringing does not "stop" if I put a pillow over one ear, or both ears..it keeps on ringing.

However, sometimes my tinnitus DOES appear to originate from one ear or the other, such as when I hear a gunshot or other loud noise. My ears will often ring afterwards, and it usually starts from the ear closest to the loud noise, but then spreads to both ears.

I think there is such a thing as "trauma tinnitus", such as if a bomb exploded near one ear, but did not kill you, just traumatized your hearing. In at least that case, I think you could have tinnitus in one ear, but not the other. Of course, if the explosion was equal distance to both ears, then both ears could have "trauma tinitus". Altho some of what I am posting here is "conjecture", I think this is basically what is happening. I think one or more Vets are suing the VA for TWO 10% tinintus ratings, one for each ear. I do know that when I do have an episode of tinnitus, it can be very severe, literally driving you nuts, and often leading to migraines, depending upon how long an episode lasts. My tinnitus episodes vary in both degree and duration.