Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a real, though often under-recognized, condition in which the ears hear normally but the brain has difficulty processing and filtering competing sounds, especially in noisy environments. Because standard audiometric testing only measures hearing thresholds (pure tone and speech recognition in quiet or simple background noise), it will often come back normal in someone with APD, which is why many veterans are told they "passed" hearing tests despite real functional problems.
VA does not have a dedicated diagnostic code specifically labeled "auditory processing disorder" in 38 CFR Part 4. Claims involving APD symptoms are typically evaluated in one of a few ways, depending on the evidence: as a mental/cognitive condition if it is tied to or overlaps with TBI, ADHD, PTSD, or anxiety (rated under 38 CFR 4.130, the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, or under 4.124a for cognitive impairment associated with TBI); as a neurological condition if there is a documented central nervous system basis; or, less commonly, VA may consider it under an analogous rating if a specific diagnostic code does not exist, per 38 CFR 4.27 (hyphenated codes) and 4.20 (rating by analogy).
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →The key to a successful claim is getting the correct diagnosis and objective testing that actually demonstrates the condition. A standard VA audiology exam is unlikely to capture APD. What generally helps is evaluation by an audiologist trained in central auditory processing testing (such as dichotic listening tests, speech-in-noise tests like QuickSIN, or gaps-in-noise testing) or a neuropsychological evaluation, since APD frequently coexists with ADHD, TBI, or anxiety and evaluators need to sort out which symptoms belong to which condition. A nexus opinion linking the diagnosed condition to military service, or showing it developed or was aggravated during service, is essential.
Given the medical board history described, a veteran in this situation should first request their complete service treatment and personnel records, then pursue a private evaluation with a neuropsychologist or audiologist experienced in central auditory processing disorders to get a proper diagnosis, since the in-service test that only checked basic hearing was not the correct diagnostic tool. That evaluation, along with a nexus statement connecting the condition to service (or to an already service-connected condition like ADHD, anxiety, or TBI), should then support a new claim or supplemental claim using VA Form 20-0995, with the new diagnostic evidence submitted as the basis for reconsideration.
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