Hearing Loss Ratings Help

[Teac]

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..

[broncovet]

Sometimes patience and persistence is what works at the VA. Whenever I get a "roadblock" at the VA, I try again on a different day, at a different time or even a different VAMC.

It usually works. You see, the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing..thats a given at the VA. So if one guy says, "No..the VA does not do that." the next guy will say, "Sure, we can do that."

The VA treats us like children, and that is they way many kids manipulate their parents. If Dad says No, then go to Mom. If both say no, go to grandma.

Being HOH requires EXTRA doses of patience and persistence. And that, is hard to come by.

Edited June 1, 2012 by broncovet

[jvretiredvet]

It was so nice to see a string of six messages before the mandatory VA screed appeared.

[Gulfvet45]

File for the increase in the hearing lose, they got it wrong. your Speech recognition on the right of 70% and on the left of 92% both make the regulation. It is not a AND between them but a OR. As you posted yours is both less than 94%.

Please read it again " or when speech recognition scores are less than 94 percent."

[jvretiredvet]

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Please read the OP's first entry ... again: I am already service connected for hearing loss at 0% . . . The issue does not appear to be service connection itself but a rating based upon current audiology findings.

The extracts you posted are from 38 CFR 3.385 http://www.benefits....ART3/S3_385.DOC . This reg defines what hearing loss is, for VA purposes.

Rating an hearing loss is a multi-stepped process, based on 38 CFR 4.85 http://www.benefits..../S4_85.DOC and 38 CFR 4.86 http://www.benefits....PART4/S4_86.DOC . A rating for hearing loss is always based on both ears, whether both are service connected or not.

File for the increase in the hearing lose, they got it wrong. your Speech recognition on the right of 70% and on the left of 92% both make the regulation. It is not a AND between them but a OR. As you posted yours is both less than 94%.

Please read it again " or when speech recognition scores are less than 94 percent."

[killemall]

Hang in their. I was 0% in 05 then 20% in 09 then 30% in 11..

I can promise you two things.

Number one you will eventually get compensated for your sc hearing loss.

Number two your hearing will continue to get worse and worse at the rate were every 18 months you can tell its all slipping away and you wont care about the money. Id give every dime back x2 just to be normal again.

[twshort]

Could someone please guide me in the right direction? I have a pending claim for SC hearing loss. I have been awarded tinnitus. The SOC states that my HL is not related to service due to a normal hearing test 6 mos prior to ETS. The Va examiner stated

Right ear: pure tone test results revealed normal hearing through 6000Hz with mild sensori-neural hearing loss at 8000Hz.

Left ear: pure tone test results revealed normal hearing through 2000Hz, a mild sensori-neural hearing loss at 3000Hz, normal hearing at 4000Hz, and severe sloping upward to moderately serve sensori-neural hearing loss above that.

and opinioned that my HL was not due to military service based on a normal hearing test 6 mos prior to ETS.

Should I pay 500 dollars for a IMO or what on the BVA?

Edited June 15, 2012 by twshort