Diagnostic Code 6100: Hearing Loss Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.85-4.86
- Rating range
- 0% to 100%
- Rating levels
- 11
- Body system
- Hearing loss and ear conditions
The VA rates Hearing Loss under diagnostic code 6100 in 38 CFR § 4.85-4.86. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.
DC 6100 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Table VII: better ear Level I with poorer ear Level I through IX; better ear Level II with poorer ear Level II through IV; better ear Level III with poorer ear Level III What raters look forRoman numeral designations from Table VI or VIa; combination falls in the 0 percent area of Table VII |
| 10% | Table VII: better ear Level I with poorer ear Level X or XI; better ear Level II with poorer ear Level V through XI; better ear Level III with poorer ear Level IV through VI; better ear Level IV with poorer ear Level IV or V What raters look forcombination falls in the 10 percent area of Table VII |
| 20% | Table VII: better ear Level III with poorer ear Level VII through XI; better ear Level IV with poorer ear Level VI through VIII; better ear Level V with poorer ear Level V or VI What raters look forcombination falls in the 20 percent area of Table VII |
| 30% | Table VII: better ear Level IV with poorer ear Level IX through XI; better ear Level V with poorer ear Level VII or VIII; better ear Level VI with poorer ear Level VI or VII What raters look forcombination falls in the 30 percent area of Table VII |
| 40% | Table VII: better ear Level V with poorer ear Level IX through XI; better ear Level VI with poorer ear Level VIII or IX; better ear Level VII with poorer ear Level VII or VIII What raters look forcombination falls in the 40 percent area of Table VII |
| 50% | Table VII: better ear Level VI with poorer ear Level X or XI; better ear Level VII with poorer ear Level IX; better ear Level VIII with poorer ear Level VIII or IX What raters look forcombination falls in the 50 percent area of Table VII |
| 60% | Table VII: better ear Level VII with poorer ear Level X or XI; better ear Level VIII with poorer ear Level X; better ear Level IX with poorer ear Level IX What raters look forcombination falls in the 60 percent area of Table VII |
| 70% | Table VII: better ear Level VIII with poorer ear Level XI; better ear Level IX with poorer ear Level X What raters look forcombination falls in the 70 percent area of Table VII |
| 80% | Table VII: better ear Level IX with poorer ear Level XI; better ear Level X with poorer ear Level X What raters look forcombination falls in the 80 percent area of Table VII |
| 90% | Table VII: better ear Level X with poorer ear Level XI What raters look forcombination falls in the 90 percent area of Table VII |
| 100% | Table VII: better ear Level XI with poorer ear Level XI (review for special monthly compensation under 38 CFR 3.350) What raters look forLevel XI in both ears |
DC 6100 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 10,022 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 6100 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 8.0%, denied 88.9% and sent 3.1% back for more work. One appeal can contain more than one ruling.
| What the appeal asked for | Decided rulings | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| A higher rating | 9,829 | 6.8% |
| A rating VA reduced | 191 | 70.2% |
By the rating the Board's order named
Only orders that state a rating percentage with a date are counted. An order denying a rating "in excess of 50 percent" names the existing rating; a grant may name the rating awarded. These are not all ratings veterans requested.
| Rating the order named | Decided rulings | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | 534 | 31.1% |
| 20 percent | 251 | 33.5% |
| 30 percent | 187 | 32.1% |
| 40 percent | 160 | 35.0% |
| 50 percent | 101 | 33.7% |
Recorded exam issues in remanded DC 6100 rulings
Percentages use all 311 rating rulings under this code the Board remanded, 2021 to 2026. Some rulings have no recorded exam classification, and small categories are not shown, so these rows need not total 100 percent.
- No exam problem recorded38.6%
- The exam was out of date or the condition had worsened34.1%
- The VA exam or opinion was not adequate24.1%
Method: Claim Raven read each ruling in every Board decision stored for 2021 to 2026 and counted it under this code when the decision named DC 6100 for a rating question. These results cover only rulings with an identified diagnostic code and may not represent rulings where no code was stated. Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out. These are outcomes within appeals, not first decisions, and not your personal odds.
Condition guide
The rating criteria are only part of the picture for Hearing Loss. The Hearing Loss condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
What happens to Hearing Loss appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 53,933 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on Hearing Loss, 2021 to 2026. The Hearing Loss condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.
Method: each ruling's outcome is read from the order in the Board's published decision and rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, leaving out dismissals and withdrawals. The data codes the condition the Board ruled on, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe Hearing Loss appeals generally rather than DC 6100 specifically. The DC 6100 section above counts this code's own rating appeals. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is VA diagnostic code 6100?
Diagnostic code 6100 is the VA rating schedule entry for Hearing Loss, found in 38 CFR § 4.85-4.86. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.
What ratings are possible under DC 6100?
DC 6100 provides ratings of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 6100 require?
The 100% rating for Hearing Loss requires: Table VII: better ear Level XI with poorer ear Level XI (review for special monthly compensation under 38 CFR 3.350).
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 6100?
In 9,829 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 6100 from 2021 to 2026, 6.8% were granted, 90.1% denied and 3.1% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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