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Hearing Loss Ratings Help

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Teac

Question

I am already service connected for hearing loss at 0%, plus 10% for tinnitis.

Newest hearing test in Feb shows the following:

Right ear

Freq DB

250 10

500 10

1000 20

1500 45

2000 55

3000 50

4000 70

6000 55

8000 55

Left ear

250 10

500 15

1000 35

1500 30

2000 25

3000 40

4000 65

6000 45

8000 50

Speech recognition right 70% speech at left 92%

I understand for va purposes their is a disability when the threshold in of the frequencies of 500, 1,000

2,000 3,000, 4,000 hettz is 40 decibels or greater or when the threshold for at least three of these frequiencies are 25 decibels or greater or when speech recognition scores are less than 94 percent.

Based on the numbers above I have tried to determine what my rating for hearing loss should be but I find the rules very confusing....

I kown I have a hearing loss just based on the numbers and speech but what I don't know if it is compensatable.. 0% was granted in 2005 based on 2004 testing, this recent test is Feb 2012.

Can any one figure this out for me, or tell me how to figure it out....

thanks..

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I will try to help, TEAC.

First you need to "average" the ratings at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000.

To do this add your numbers and divide by 5. You do this seperately for each ear.

For the right I get 41 average for you.

For the left, I get 36 average for you.

Then you apply those numbers to the charts, to arrive at disabilty percentage, and include your speech recognition

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Easy can do GI.

Still 0%.

Although the definition of hearing loss for VA purposes is at 38 CFR 3.385 http://www.benefits....ART3/S3_385.DOC , the rules and pertinent tables for rating hearing loss are at 38.CFR 4.85 http://www.benefits....PART4/S4_85.DOC

I am already service connected for hearing loss at 0%, plus 10% for tinnitis.

Newest hearing test in Feb shows the following:

Right ear

Freq DB

250 10

500 10

1000 20

1500 45

2000 55

3000 50

4000 70

6000 55

8000 55

Left ear

250 10

500 15

1000 35

1500 30

2000 25

3000 40

4000 65

6000 45

8000 50

Speech recognition right 70% speech at left 92%

I understand for va purposes their is a disability when the threshold in of the frequencies of 500, 1,000

2,000 3,000, 4,000 hettz is 40 decibels or greater or when the threshold for at least three of these frequiencies are 25 decibels or greater or when speech recognition scores are less than 94 percent.

Based on the numbers above I have tried to determine what my rating for hearing loss should be but I find the rules very confusing....

I kown I have a hearing loss just based on the numbers and speech but what I don't know if it is compensatable.. 0% was granted in 2005 based on 2004 testing, this recent test is Feb 2012.

Can any one figure this out for me, or tell me how to figure it out....

thanks..

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Easy can do GI.

Still 0%.

Although the definition of hearing loss for VA purposes is at 38 CFR 3.385 http://www.benefits....ART3/S3_385.DOC , the rules and pertinent tables for rating hearing loss are at 38.CFR 4.85 http://www.benefits....PART4/S4_85.DOC

Thanks but just how did you arrive at 0%.....

If my hearing loss is twice as bad as it was in 2005.... just how much more hearing do I need to lose before I get compensated for it?

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I will try to help, TEAC.

First you need to "average" the ratings at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000.

To do this add your numbers and divide by 5. You do this seperately for each ear.

For the right I get 41 average for you.

For the left, I get 36 average for you.

Then you apply those numbers to the charts, to arrive at disabilty percentage, and include your speech recognition

yes i got this far.. but just what chart do I use there is more than one and this is where I get lost....

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Gee, you want expansion .... okay.

Right ear:

1000Hz 20dB

2000Hz 55dB

3000Hz 50dB

4000Hz 70dB

Avg = 49dB ( (20+55+50+70)/4 =48.75, rounded to 49dB)

Speech discrimination = 70%

Left ear

1000Hz 35dB

2000Hz 25dB

3000Hz 40dB

4000Hz 65dB

Avg = 41dB ( (35+25+40+65)/4 = 41.25, rounded to 41dB)

Speech discrimination = 92%

Per 38 CFR 4.85 Table VI :

Right ear: 70% speech discrimination, 49dB avg -> IV.

Left ear: 92% speech discrimination, 41dB average -> I

Per 38 CFR 4.85 Table VII

Rt ear value VI intersects with Lt ear value I at 0%

Neither ear qualifies for "exceptional pattern of hearing loss" per 38 CFR 4.86.

WRT just how much more hearing do I need to lose before I get compensated for it, you need to look at Table VII .

Thanks but just how did you arrive at 0%.....

If my hearing loss is twice as bad as it was in 2005.... just how much more hearing do I need to lose before I get compensated for it?

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i really appreciate the input..

This is just another example of VA math not making any sense. If some one needs hearing aids, and is issued Blue tooth accessories and fancy hearing aids at well over $6000 and still can't understand words.. and the hearing test show a clear hearing loss, one so profound according to the doctor ( right ear) that the doctor wants a cat scan to rule out any tumors or other adnormal problems.....

So I still have no compensatable hearing loss and the hearing aids and other things don't help me... guess I will put the Phonak TV Link, and Phonak FM smart link and hearing aids on ebay since they don't help me anyway... Heck maybe they will help someone else.

VA MATH SUCKS

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