United States Department of Veterans Affairs

TSGLI Loss Standards

2. Total and permanent loss of hearing

When a member has a loss of hearing, the member is eligible for a TSGLI benefit for total and permanent loss of hearing if the member meets the following standard:

If the member's average hearing threshold sensitivity for air conduction in at least one ear is... and the loss of hearing will...

80 decibels or more

not improve (with reasonable certainty) throughout the member's life.

Hearing Acuity - Hearing acuity must be measured at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz to calculate the average hearing threshold. Loss of hearing must be clinically stable and unlikely to improve.

Reviewed/Updated Date: May 4th, 2012