**Impairment of Auditory Acuity**

4.85 Evaluation of hearing impairment 4.85-1

4.86 Exceptional patterns of hearing impairment 4.86-1

4.87 Schedule of ratings---ear 4.87-1

4.87a Schedule of ratings---other sense organs 4.87a-1

**§ 4.85 Evaluation of hearing impairment.**

\(a\) An examination for hearing impairment for VA purposes must be
conducted by a state-licensed audiologist and must include a controlled
speech discrimination test (Maryland CNC) and a puretone audiometry
test. Examinations will be conducted without the use of hearing aids.

\(b\) Table VI, "Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based on
Puretone Threshold Average and Speech Discrimination," is used to
determine a Roman numeral designation (I through XI) for hearing
impairment based on a combination of the percent of speech
discrimination (horizontal rows) and the puretone threshold average
(vertical columns). The Roman numeral designation is located at the
point where the percentage of speech discrimination and puretone
threshold average intersect.

\(c\) Table VIa, "Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based Only
on Puretone Threshold Average," is used to determine a Roman numeral
designation (I through XI) for hearing impairment based only on the
puretone threshold average. Table VIa will be used when the examiner
certifies that use of the speech discrimination test is not appropriate
because of language difficulties, inconsistent speech discrimination
scores, etc., or when indicated under the provisions of §4.86.

\(d\) "Puretone threshold average," as used in Tables VI and VIa, is the
sum of the puretone thresholds at 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hertz,
divided by four. This average is used in all cases (including those in
§4.86) to determine the Roman numeral designation for hearing impairment
from Table VI or VIa.

\(e\) Table VII, "Percentage Evaluations for Hearing Impairment," is
used to determine the percentage evaluation by combining the Roman
numeral designations for hearing impairment of each ear. The horizontal
rows represent the ear having the better hearing and the vertical
columns the ear having the poorer hearing. The percentage evaluation is
located at the point where the row and column intersect.

\(f\) If impaired hearing is service-connected in only one ear, in order
to determine the percentage evaluation from Table VII, the
non-service-connected ear will be assigned a Roman Numeral designation
for hearing impairment of I, subject to the provisions of §3.383 of this
chapter.

\(g\) When evaluating any claim for impaired hearing, refer to §3.350 of
this chapter to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special
monthly compensation due either to deafness, or to deafness in
combination with other specified disabilities.

\(h\) Numeric tables VI, VIA\*, and VII.

\[52 FR 44119, Nov. 18, 1987, as amended at 64 FR 25206, May 11, 1999\]

**Supplement *Highlights* reference**: 25(1)

**[table vi]{.smallcaps}**

**[numeric designation of hearing impairment based on]{.smallcaps}**

**[puretone threshold average and speech discrimination]{.smallcaps}**

**% of Puretone Threshold Average**

**discrim-**

**ination** 0-41 42-49 50-57 58-65 66-73 74-81 82-89 90-97 98+

**92-100** I I I II II II III III IV

**84-90** II II II III III III IV IV IV

**76-82** III III IV IV IV V V V V

**68-74** IV IV V V VI VI VII VII VII

**60-66** V V VI VI VII VII VIII VIII VIII

**52-58** VI VI VII VII VIII VIII VIII VIII IX

**44-50** VII VII VIII VIII VIII IX IX IX X

**36-42** VIII VIII VIII IX IX IX X X X

**0-34** IX X XI XI XI XI XI XI XI

**[table viA\*]{.smallcaps}**

**[numeric designation of hearing impairment based only]{.smallcaps}**

**[on puretone threshold average]{.smallcaps}**

**Puretone Threshold Average**

0-41 42-48 49-55 56-62 63-69 70-76 77-83 84-90 91-97 98-104 105+

I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI

\*This table is for use *only* as specified in §§4.85 and 4.86.

**[table vii]{.smallcaps}**

**[percentage evaluation for hearing impairment]{.smallcaps}**

**[(diagnostic code 6100)]{.smallcaps}**

**Poorer Ear**

XI 100**\***

X 90 80

IX 80 70 60

VIII 70 60 50 50

VII 60 60 50 40 40

VI 50 50 40 40 30 30

V 40 40 40 30 30 20 20

IV 30 30 30 20 20 20 10 10

III 20 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 0

II 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 0 0 0

I 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

XI X IX VIII VII VI V IV III II I

**\***Review for entitlement to special monthly compensation under
§3.350 of this chapter.

\[41 FR 11298, Mar. 18, 1976, as amended at 52 FR 44119, Nov. 18, 1987;
64 FR 25208, May 11, 1999\]