Hearing Loss Workers Comp Settlement in Iowa
Iowa schedules other body parts but does not list a specific value for the hearing loss. Most hearing loss cases here are valued under the general impairment provision of the state statute, with the doctor's whole-person impairment rating driving the number of weeks payable.
Iowa hearing loss settlement at a glance
- State maximum weekly
- $2,274.00
- Compensation rate
- 66⅔% of your average weekly wage
Sourced from Iowa's statutory schedule of injuries and the Iowa workers comp board's current rate notice.
How Iowa values an unscheduled hearing loss injury
Iowa schedules other body parts but treats the hearing loss under a general impairment provision instead. The doctor assigns a whole-person impairment rating at MMI, and the carrier pays 66⅔% of your average weekly wage for the statutory weeks attached to that rating, capped at $2,274.00 per week. The Iowa workers comp overview explains the general impairment provision in detail.
Hearing Loss medical context and impairment ratings
Occupational hearing loss is one of the most under-claimed injuries in US workers comp. OSHA requires hearing conservation programs in workplaces with noise above 85 dBA, but workers who developed hearing loss over decades often never file because the loss is gradual. Most states use audiogram-confirmed percentage loss in each ear, scaled against the schedule for total hearing loss in that ear.
Common variants and terms searchers use for a hearing loss claim: occupational hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, NIHL, tinnitus, audiogram, audiometric testing.
Typical whole-person impairment ratings
The doctor's impairment rating at MMI is the lever the PPD payout turns on. Below are the rating ranges most frequently assigned for hearing loss injuries under the AMA Guides. Your actual rating depends on the specific anatomy, the surgical outcome, and how the rating physician applies the Guides.
| Scenario | Typical whole-person rating |
|---|---|
| Mild hearing loss, one ear | Schedule-driven; varies by state |
| Moderate to severe hearing loss, one ear | Higher percentage of one-ear scheduled weeks |
| Bilateral severe hearing loss | Often paid as full schedule of both ears |
| Tinnitus rating add-on | Usually 0 to 5% whole-person added to hearing loss |
Ratings here are typical ranges based on the AMA Guides editions adopted by most states. Your state may use a different edition; check the Iowa statute citation in the rate card above.
Recovery timeline to MMI
Hearing loss does not recover. The audiogram at MMI is the permanent record, and the percentage of hearing loss in each ear sets the impairment rating directly. Tinnitus is rated separately as a small add-on in most states.
Surgery and the Iowa hearing loss settlement value
Surgery is the single biggest lever on a hearing loss workers comp settlement value. Surgery usually raises the permanent impairment rating compared to the same injury treated conservatively, and the PPD value scales with the rating. Surgery also extends the time you spend in temporary disability, which delays the settlement conversation but does not reduce its eventual value.
| Procedure | What it does and what to expect |
|---|---|
| Cochlear implant | Rare in workers comp. Used for severe-to-profound hearing loss when hearing aids no longer help. |
| Tympanoplasty | Repair of the eardrum, usually for blast or barotrauma injuries. |
For more on whether to have surgery and how it affects the settlement value, see the surgery and settlement value guide.
Common questions about hearing loss settlements in Iowa
- Can I get workers comp for hearing loss?
- Yes, if the hearing loss is occupational (caused by workplace noise exposure or a specific work injury). You need an audiogram and a medical opinion linking the loss to the work environment. The audiogram percentage in each ear drives the schedule payout.
- Does workers comp pay for tinnitus?
- Most states pay for tinnitus as a separate small percentage of whole-person impairment, usually added to the hearing-loss rating. The exact treatment varies by state.
- How is hearing loss measured for workers comp?
- By audiogram. The audiologist plots the threshold in decibels at each frequency. The AMA Guides convert that into a percentage of binaural hearing loss, which is then converted to whole-person impairment or directly to scheduled weeks under state law.
Hearing Loss settlement value in other states
Other states pay very different maximum hearing loss settlements for the same total-loss injury. This chart compares the max PPD payout at each state's weekly cap. Iowa does not appear in the schedule comparison because it does not separately schedule the hearing loss.
Each bar shows the maximum permanent partial disability payout for a total loss of the hearing loss, calculated as statutory weeks × state weekly cap. A worker earning below the state cap collects two-thirds of their own wage and would receive less than the bar shows. See the Hearing Loss ranking across all states for the full list.
When will Iowa offer a settlement on a hearing loss claim?
Most Iowa cases do not produce a settlement offer until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement. Before MMI, the carrier prefers to keep paying weekly temporary disability and medical bills because the case is still worth an unknown amount. Once MMI lands and the impairment rating is set, the case becomes a math problem the carrier can price. That is when hearing loss settlement talks usually start.
Surgery is the other common trigger. If a doctor recommends surgery for the hearing loss injury and the worker is still deciding, the rating is in flux and the carrier waits. After surgery and recovery to MMI, the rating stabilizes and the settlement conversation opens. The MMI guide walks through what changes the day MMI is declared.
Tax and timing of payment
Workers compensation paid under a state workers compensation act is excluded from federal gross income under IRS Publication 525 and Internal Revenue Code § 104(a)(1). That covers your weekly checks and any lump-sum settlement that takes their place. Iowa does not separately tax the same income.
The check usually arrives two to four weeks after a judge signs the settlement. Structured settlements and Medicare Set-Aside arrangements add time. See the payment timing guide for the full breakdown.
What this number does not include
The figures above value the permanent partial disability portion of the claim. Iowa workers comp pays several other components separately:
- Medical care, past and future. The carrier pays for authorized treatment of the hearing loss injury. A settlement may close future medical for a separate lump sum.
- Temporary disability already paid. Weekly TTD and TPD checks during recovery are a separate bucket.
- Mileage to medical appointments. Iowa reimburses travel at the per-mile rate set by the state.
- Vocational rehabilitation. If the hearing loss injury keeps you from returning to your prior job, the carrier may have to pay for retraining.
- Permanent total disability. A separate award entirely, paid if you cannot return to any reasonable work.