Veterans & Hearing Loss

Bunched up American flag

Veterans & Hearing Loss

We are forever grateful to veterans and your service to our country. We believe that you deserve the utmost care for your service and sacrifice.

Veterans report disproportionately high rates of hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). As of the fiscal year 2020, more than 1.3 million Veterans were reported as receiving disability compensation for hearing loss, and more than 2.3 million received compensation for tinnitus, according to the Veterans Benefits Administration compensation report.

You’d think based on your service that as a veteran you should have no issue accessing the important and supportive treatment for tinnitus, however according to U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), when millions attempt to access audiology care through their Veterans Administration benefits, they often face unnecessary red tape, all too often giving up without treatment.

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Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Veterans

Why do Veterans suffer such high rates of tinnitus and hearing loss? Veteran’s hearing is at a greater risk than civilians due to hearing damage which often occurs over time or because of a one-time exposure to high-intensity noise, such as small-arms fire, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), or artillery fire. Others are exposed to constant sounds of jet planes taking off or other heavy combat machinery.
Military man holding finger on rifle trigger

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Military Settings

The volume of sound is measured in decibels and any sound over 85 dBA can be loud enough to vibrate the inner ear to the point of permanent damage. At 85 dBA it takes 8 hours of constant exposure for damage to occur. As the decibels rise, the time it takes for damage to occur shrinks. At 95 dBA it takes only an hour for this damage to occur and at 105 it can occur in less than 15 minutes. Just about every Military weapon system makes more than 140 dB peak sound pressure level (dB), loud enough to damage hearing instantaneously if proper hearing protection is not in place. It only takes one opportune moment for a veteran to be left with ongoing hearing issues. While there is hearing protection, available that limits loud sounds while allowing quieter ones to be heard, it’s not always possible to ensure that they are worn.
Army soldier holding flag and son

Access to VA Hearing Health Care

Despite the damage, millions sustain to their ears while in United States service, it can be very tricky to receive treatment. To do so currently, receiving VA hearing care, such as hearing aids, mandates that veterans must have documented that they incurred hearing loss or tinnitus while on active duty.

"However, many veterans are not diagnosed until after they are discharged," Smith explained in a news release. "This places a significant burden on veterans to prove that their hearing loss or tinnitus is the result of their time in the military."

Smiling African woman in military uniform

A Law to Protect Veterans

Smith has introduced a new law that would make it easier for the millions of veterans affected by a loud noise while in service to access the health care they deserve and desperately need. Untreated hearing loss and tinnitus can cause chronic stress, sleep issues, and communication issues which affect every part of the quality of life. Introduced as the Veterans Hearing Benefits Act of 2022 in early February, If passed, the law would:

  • "provide presumption for hearing loss and tinnitus to veterans who served in combat or in a military specialty where they were exposed to repeated loud noises, such as those who worked around heavy artillery, thus making it easier for veterans to establish service-connection and get the benefits they’ve earned."
  • "amend the Schedule for Rating Disabilities to provide a minimum compensable evaluation for any service-connected hearing loss for which a hearing aid is medically required."
Audiologist using otoscope

The Importance of Hearing Healthcare

Hearing health care is an issue that is important for all people in the United States. Commonly underestimated and not covered by Medicaid and most insurance companies, hearing loss can affect every aspect of our health, from emotional and physical. Untreated, hearing loss and tinnitus have an enormous impact on quality of life increasing rates of social isolation and dementia. Meanwhile, chronic, persistent tinnitus often results in anxiety and sleep problems.

Seeking Treatment

The good news is that while hearing loss and tinnitus are permanent, they can be treated to reduce negative effects. To find out how to access your VA benefits, contact us today and start by scheduling a hearing exam.
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