Veterans may suffer hearing loss after repeated and routine exposures to loud noises from gunfire, explosions, machinery and aircraft, according to government health studies. Soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., conduct a live-fire training exercise, Feb. 1, 2025. (Stephen San Jose/U.S. Army National Guard)
WASHINGTON — Veterans with mild and moderate hearing loss would have an easier time getting hearing aids under a proposed bill to let them bypass a prescription from an audiologist at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act would establish a two-year pilot program at a few VA facilities to provide eligible veterans with over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription or follow-up fittings with an audiologist.
Hearing loss and tinnitus are the most common service-connected disabilities among veterans, according to the VA.
More than 2.5 million veterans experience some form of hearing loss, with the VA the largest employer of audiologists in the U.S.
But many affected veterans do not try to get hearing aids because of the time it takes to visit an audiologist for an evaluation, obtain a prescription and get fitted for the devices, said Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who’s leading the legislation.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, are cosponsors.
Over-the-counter hearing aids, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, have been available at retail stores since 2022, after Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., helped lead legislation that made the devices accessible without a prescription. She is now trying to improve access to the devices through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Costco hearing aid center, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 in Beltsville, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Over-the-counter hearing aids, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, have been available at retail stores since 2022, after Blackburn helped to lead legislation that made the devices accessible without a prescription.
But veterans with hearing loss have been unable to obtain the devices through the VA.
Over-the-counter hearing aids are designed to be self‑fitting, allowing the user to adjust them at home without multiple audiology appointments or lengthy wait times, said Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America.
“By opening the door for the VA to cover OTC hearing aids, this legislation would give veterans a simpler, more convenient pathway to hearing care,” Kelley said.
Esteban M. Blis, a 56-year-old Army veteran, said he became partially deaf after repeated exposure to artillery fire and bomb explosions during combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Blis, who served for 18 years, was medically retired in 2011 after being wounded in Afghanistan.
Veterans are more prone to hearing loss primarily because of routine exposures to gunfire, explosions, machinery and aircraft.
“I was tested and had a diagnosis from the VA for service-connected hearing loss,” said Blis, a former staff sergeant. “I know a lot of veterans in a similar situation.”
Early intervention is critical for veterans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss and can slow down the progression of further damage, said Catherine Pugh, director for digital health at the Consumer Technology Association.
“This bill will make it easier to access modern hearing technology,” Pugh said.
Under the pilot program, veterans could become eligible for over-the-counter hearing aids through the VA, after an initial audiological evaluation.
“While the bill does not allow veterans to independently purchase over-the-counter hearing aids at retail stores and seek reimbursement, it takes an important first step,” said Cole Lyle, veterans affairs and rehabilitation director with the American Legion.
Over-the-counter hearing aids have the potential to reduce appointment backlogs at VA clinics and improve quality of life for hard-of-hearing veterans, Lyle said.
Veterans can now qualify for prescription hearing aids after testing and evaluation at a VA audiology clinic.
“Veterans go to a doctor at the VA to get their hearing aids. I need to replace mine about every three to five years. The hearing aids cost about $5,000 to $8,000, but I receive 100% coverage,” said Blis, whose hearing loss is service-connected.
Blis lives in Panama and advocates for veterans living in Latin America. He said he is familiar with over-the-counter hearing aids but is still concerned about their quality and reliability.
Over-the-counter hearing aids can be effective for mild to moderate hearing loss, according to the National Institutes of Health.
“Prescription hearing aids remain essential for veterans with more complex or severe hearing loss, as they are intended for a broader range of hearing needs. But for many veterans, over-the-counter devices offer an accessible, clinically appropriate option,” Kelley said.
