The first thing VA decides is not how bad your hearing is. It is whether the loss is connected to service. That usually needs three things: a current diagnosed condition, an in-service event or exposure, and a medical link between them. A…
The first thing VA decides is not how bad your hearing is. It is whether the loss is connected to service. That usually needs three things: a current diagnosed condition, an in-service event or exposure, and a medical link between them. A veteran with significant hearing loss and no established connection can be denied, while one with milder loss and clear documentation is granted. Understanding that ordering explains most outcomes that otherwise look arbitrary.
A Compensation and Pension exam is an evaluation requested by VA to gather evidence. The examiner is not deciding your claim and is not your treating clinician. For hearing, it normally includes pure-tone air conduction thresholds and a speech recognition test using a specific word list. Answer honestly, describe your worst days as well as your typical ones, and do not minimise - many veterans understate difficulties out of habit.
A private audiogram can support a claim, particularly for showing a condition exists and its current severity. It does not replace the C&P exam, and VA uses specific testing protocols, so an audiogram that omits speech discrimination scores may carry less weight than expected. We provide complete audiometric results with the components VA looks for, and we will say when a particular question is one only VA or your treating provider can answer.
Tinnitus is its own condition with its own criteria, and it is frequently claimed alongside hearing loss. It is largely subjective - there is no test that proves it - so consistent documentation over time matters, including when you first noticed it and how it affects sleep, concentration and work.
Veterans Service Organisations, state veterans agencies and VA-accredited representatives assist with claims at no cost. That is worth repeating because paid claim-preparation companies advertise heavily and charge substantial fees for work a VSO does free. We are an audiology provider, not a claims agent, and we do not take a share of anyone's benefit.
Primary regulations and standards referenced above. Where a standard is published commercially it is named in full rather than linked to a copy.