Few ratings frustrate veterans more than hearing loss. You know your hearing is worse — yet the VA hands you 0%. That's because hearing loss is rated by a strict formula based on test numbers, not by how much it bothers you.
How it's rated (DC 6100)
Hearing loss is rated under 38 CFR §4.85, Diagnostic Code 6100, using results from a specific audiology exam. Two measurements drive everything:
- Puretone threshold average — how loud sounds must be for you to hear them across key frequencies.
- Speech discrimination score — the percentage of words you correctly repeat on the Maryland CNC word-recognition test.
The VA plugs those into Table VI to get a Roman numeral (I–XI) for each ear, then cross-references both ears in Table VII to produce a rating from 0% to 100%. It's a mechanical lookup — the examiner's opinion of severity doesn't change the result.
What a 0% rating is still worth
Even at 0%, getting hearing loss service-connected is valuable: it locks in the connection, opens the door to VA hearing aids and audiology care, and gives you a base to claim an increase later if your hearing worsens. It also supports related claims.
Hearing loss vs. tinnitus — they're separate
This is the key thing to know: hearing loss and tinnitus are different conditions with different codes. Tinnitus (DC 6260) is a flat 10% on its own; hearing loss (DC 6100) is rated by the tables above. Many veterans qualify for both — a 10% tinnitus rating plus a separate hearing-loss rating — from the same noise exposure.
If you think your rating is too low
- Check the exam. Was the Maryland CNC word test used? Was the environment proper? Testing errors are a common appeal ground.
- File for an increase if your hearing has measurably worsened since the last exam.
- Don't forget tinnitus — if you have ringing in the ears, that's a separate 10% claim.
- Secondary effects — significant hearing loss can contribute to mental-health or balance claims.