Hearing Loss (VA Rating) — DC 6100
The VA rates service-connected hearing loss under DC 6100 from 0% to 100% based on an audiologist's pure-tone and Maryland CNC speech tests.
Official source: ecfr.gov
The VA rates service-connected hearing loss under Diagnostic Code 6100 using a hearing test done by a licensed audiologist. Your results for each ear are matched to a VA chart to find your rating, which can range from 0% to 100% depending on how much hearing you have lost and how well you can understand speech.
The test has two parts. First, a pure-tone hearing test measures how faint a sound needs to be before you can hear it at four different pitches. Second, the Maryland CNC word recognition test measures how well you understand speech. The basic hearing screening at MEPS does not count. You need a full audiologist exam for a VA rating.
How the math works: each ear gets a Roman numeral score from I (near-normal hearing) to XI (profound loss). The VA then cross-references the two scores on a second chart to get your final disability percentage. A 0% rating still matters because you stay service-connected, which means you can get a higher rating later as your hearing gets worse without having to prove service connection all over again.
Tinnitus is always rated separately. If you have both hearing loss and ringing in your ears, you can get a separate 10% tinnitus rating on top of your hearing loss rating. File for both at the same time. Hearing loss is the second most-claimed VA disability in the country, with noise from guns, aircraft, tanks, and machinery during service the most common cause.
In real life
- A retired infantryman with moderate loss in both ears receives a 20% hearing-loss rating plus a separate 10% tinnitus rating.
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Frequently asked questions about Hearing Loss (VA Rating)
What test does the VA use to rate hearing loss?+
A licensed audiologist runs a pure-tone audiogram (four pitches) and the Maryland CNC speech recognition test. The MEPS screening does not count. Results map to a VA chart that sets your rating.
Why did I get a 0% rating for hearing loss?+
A 0% rating means your hearing loss is documented and service-connected but does not yet meet the threshold for a paid rating. You can refile for an increase as your hearing gets worse without re-proving service connection.
Can I get VA disability for hearing loss and tinnitus together?+
Yes. Tinnitus is rated separately under DC 6260 at a flat 10% in addition to whatever hearing-loss rating you receive. File both claims at the same time.
What evidence helps a hearing loss claim?+
Your service treatment records, your military occupational specialty showing noise exposure (artillery, aircraft, armor, generators), a current audiologist exam, and a Nexus Letter linking exposure to your current diagnosis.
How high can the VA hearing loss rating go?+
Up to 100%, but that level is rare and requires profound deafness in both ears (Roman numeral scores in the X to XI range) confirmed by an audiologist's report.
Source: ecfr.gov