Citation Nr: 21011005 Decision Date: 02/26/21 Archive Date: 02/26/21 DOCKET NO. 16-52 377 DATE: February 26, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. FINDING OF FACT Throughout the period on appeal, the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level III in the right ear and Level III in the left ear. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1155, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 4.85, 4.86, Diagnostic Code 6100. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from February 1969 to February 1971. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from an April 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The case was last before the Board in September 2019 and has returned to the Board for further appellate review. This appeal has been advanced on the Board’s docket pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 7107(a)(2); 38 C.F.R. § 20.902(c). 1. Entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss Disability ratings are determined by applying the criteria set forth in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule) and are intended to represent the average impairment of earning capacity resulting from disability. 38 U.S.C. § 1155; 38 C.F.R. § 4.1. Evaluations of hearing loss range from noncompensable to 100 percent, based upon organic impairment of hearing acuity as measured by the results of a controlled Maryland CNC speech discrimination test, together with the average hearing threshold level measured by pure tone audiometry tests in the frequencies of 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz. 38 C.F.R. § 4.85, Diagnostic Code 6100. To evaluate the degree of disability from service-connected defective hearing, the rating schedule establishes eleven auditory hearing acuity levels designated from Level I, for essentially normal hearing acuity, through Level XI, for profound deafness. 38 C.F.R. § 4.85, Tables VI and VII, Diagnostic Code 6100. Disability ratings for hearing loss are derived from a mechanical application of the rating schedule to the numeric designations resulting from audiometric testing. See Lendenmann v. Principi, 3 Vet. App. 345 (1992). An exceptional pattern of hearing impairment occurs when the pure tone threshold at each of the four specified frequencies (1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz) is 55 decibels or more. 38 C.F.R. § 4.86(a). In that situation, the rating specialist will determine the Roman numeral designation for hearing impairment from either Table VI or Table VIA, whichever results in the higher numeral. Further, when the average pure tone threshold is 30 decibels or less at 1000 Hertz, and 70 decibels or more at 2000 Hertz, the rating specialist will determine the Roman numeral designation for hearing impairment from either Table VI or Table VIA, whichever results in the higher numeral, and that numeral will then be elevated to the next higher numeral. 38 C.F.R. § 4.86(b). Each ear is considered separately. The Veteran underwent two VA audiology examinations during the claim period. During a March 2014 VA examination, the Veteran’s Maryland CNC Word List speech recognition score and pure tone thresholds, in decibels, were as follows: HERTZ 1000 2000 3000 4000 Avg CNC RIGHT 45 60 75 75 64 90% LEFT 45 55 60 65 56 84% Applying the results to Table VI, the findings yield a numeric designation of Level III in the right ear and Level II in the left ear. Entering the resulting bilateral numeric designation of Level III for the right ear and Level II for the left ear to 38 C.F.R. § 4.85, Table VII, equates to a noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6100. An exceptional pattern of hearing impairment under 38 C.F.R. § 4.86 was not shown. On VA examination in January 2020, the Veteran’s Maryland CNC Word List speech recognition score and pure tone thresholds, in decibels, were as follows: HERTZ 1000 2000 3000 4000 Avg CNC RIGHT 45 65 80 80 68 88% LEFT 45 60 65 65 59 84% Applying the results to Table VI, the findings yield a numeric designation of Level III in the right ear and Level III in the left ear. Entering the resulting bilateral numeric designation of Level III for the right ear and Level III for the left ear to 38 C.F.R. § 4.85, Table VII, equates to a noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6100. An exceptional pattern of hearing impairment under 38 C.F.R. § 4.86 was not shown. The Board notes that a December 2017 VA treatment record reveals the Veteran underwent an audiological evaluation; however, the Board finds the results inadequate for rating purposes, as they do not provide Maryland CNC speech discrimination test scores. Moreover, the audiologist noted that there were no significant changes in the Veteran’s hearing from his March 2014 VA examination results. Based on a review of the evidence, the Board finds that the valid audiometric testing results do not demonstrate that the Veteran is entitled to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss at any time during the period on appeal. The Board expressly acknowledges its consideration of the lay evidence of record to include the functional impairment caused by his hearing loss. See Martinak v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 447, 455-56 (2007). However, disability ratings for hearing loss are derived from a mechanical application of the rating schedule to the numeric designations resulting from audiometric testing. See Lendenmann, 3 Vet. App. 345. Accordingly, the preponderance of the most probative evidence of record is against the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. In reaching the above conclusion, the Board has considered the applicability of the benefit of the doubt doctrine. However, as the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim, that doctrine does not apply. See 38 U.S.C. § 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. § 3.102; see also Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49, 55-57 (1990). K. A. BANFIELD Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Lance, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.