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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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Before you waste any money, any time, or any more of your aggravation, does your hearing loss meet the VA criteria for the definition of disability per 38 CFR 3.385 http://www.benefits....ART3/S3_385.DOC ?

While the examiner's statement is real neat, it really says nothing. What were the right & left dB losses at 500, 1000, 20001 3000, 4000Hz? What were the speech discrimination scores?

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?

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jvretiredvet is right what were your DB levels and your speech disc. scores. Also, what was your MOS in the service? If you meet the criteria under 38 CFR you should file an appeal. Even if you get a 0% rating which is probably what 90% of us get.

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My MOS was 63S20 Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic but I was with 1/9th 2nd ID in Korea 1st tour the 301st 7th Division at Ft Ord then 1/15 FA 2nd ID Camp Stanley Korea 2nd tour. Here is the last exam results by VA examiner.

Word recognition scores were 98% at each ear.

Right

250-10

500-10

1000-5

1500-10

2000-20

3000-25

4000-25

6000-15

8000-30

Left

250-10

500-15

1000-5

1500-10

2000-15

3000-30

4000-25

6000-75

8000-55

On the Addendum Statement:

This Veteran would be considered to be employable only in a work position that required very little auditory-verbal communication. His word recognition scores for amplified spreech were 32% at the right ear and 42% at the left ear. This would indicate that even if amplification were worn, he would frequently mishear what has been said, even in a quiet work setting.

Edited by twshort
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Please reconcile for me ... you wrote you had 98% word recognition scores in both ears yet the addendum you posted listed rather remarkable 32% right and 42% left.

My MOS was 63S20 Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic but I was with 1/9th 2nd ID in Korea 1st tour the 301st 7th Division at Ft Ord then 1/15 FA 2nd ID Camp Stanley Korea 2nd tour. Here is the last exam results by VA examiner.

Word recognition scores were 98% at each ear.

Right

250-10

500-10

1000-5

1500-10

2000-20

3000-25

4000-25

6000-15

8000-30

Left

250-10

500-15

1000-5

1500-10

2000-15

3000-30

4000-25

6000-75

8000-55

On the Addendum Statement:

This Veteran would be considered to be employable only in a work position that required very little auditory-verbal communication. His word recognition scores for amplified spreech were 32% at the right ear and 42% at the left ear. This would indicate that even if amplification were worn, he would frequently mishear what has been said, even in a quiet work setting.

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If you are not the person on the report I would take that back to the VARO and show it to them. They gave you someone elses report. Based on the scores you provided your average DB level for your right ear is 17 and your left is 18. Here is 3.385 Disability due to impaired hearing.

For the purposes of applying the laws administered by VA, impaired hearing will be considered to be a disability when the auditory threshold in any of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 Hertz is 40 decibels or greater; or when the auditory thresholds for at least three of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 Hertz are 26 decibels or greater; or when speech recognition scores using the Maryland CNC Test are less than 94 percent.

according to this it does not look like you have a disability due to impaired hearing. Also, your MOS is on the list for having a high incidence of hearing loss.

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I am not the person on the report, the audiologist made a mistake either with my results or the person on the statement. I represent myself I don't have a VARO. The audiologist stated that I have Sensorineural hearing loss. But according to the reg. that is not considered as a impaired hearing. It would not be wise to invest in a IMO.

Edited by twshort
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