Hearing loss can develop gradually after months or years around aircraft and other high-noise equipment. For civilian contractors who worked overseas supporting the U.S. military, the resulting impairment may fall under a federal compensation system rather than an ordinary state injury claim.
A Texas Defense Base Act claim for hearing loss could provide benefits when covered employment causes or contributes to occupational hearing damage. Our attorneys could evaluate where you worked and how your medical evidence connects the loss to workplace noise. At Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, we help injured workers understand whether the Defense Base Act (DBA) applies in their case.
Who Qualifies for DBA Hearing Loss Benefits?
The DBA extends the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act to certain civilian employees working outside the U.S. Coverage can include work at U.S. military bases and employment performed under qualifying public works or national-defense contracts. 42 U.S.C. § 1651 identifies the overseas employment categories the Act covers and incorporates the Longshore Act’s compensation framework.
Hearing damage does not have to follow one explosive event. You may file a claim in Texas for hearing loss under the DBA if you are repeatedly exposed to damaging noise and your work falls within covered employment. You may even have returned to the state before recognizing the extent of your impairment, so your contract documents and job records can become important early evidence.
DBA Hearing Loss Compensation and Audiograms
Federal law treats permanent hearing impairment as a scheduled disability. Under 33 U.S.C. § 908(c)(13), compensation payable for complete hearing loss in one ear is for 52 weeks, and for complete loss in both ears is for 200 weeks. Partial hearing loss is compensated proportionally.
That makes the quality and timing of your hearing test especially critical. Under the DBA, the value of a hearing disability claim in Texas depends on the degree of impairment shown by audiograms. Your medical records may also help distinguish occupational hearing damage from other causes.
The Department of Labor emphasizes that hearing loss and occupational disease claims receive special timing rules. Normal deadlines do not apply in the same way to sudden injuries.
Proving Overseas Occupational Noise Exposure Under the DBA
Employers and insurers may dispute whether workplace noise caused your hearing loss, particularly when exposure occurred across multiple assignments. They may also question whether you had a preexisting impairment or whether later non-work exposure contributed. In Texas, a Defense Base Act hearing loss claim often depends on connecting the diagnosed impairment to covered overseas noise exposure. Useful evidence may include:
- Overseas contracts and job descriptions showing covered work
- Audiograms taken during and after the assignment
- Medical opinions on the link between workplace noise and hearing impairment
- Records identifying noisy equipment or hearing-protection practices
- Statements from coworkers who experienced the same conditions
A well-supported claim should connect the covered employment to the diagnosed impairment without overstating what the records prove. Our lawyers could review your competing audiograms and the insurer’s arguments to identify where the claim is strongest and where more evidence may be needed.
Speak With a Texas Attorney About Your DBA Hearing Impairment Claim
Occupational hearing loss can affect how you communicate and your ability to work in demanding environments. If the injury developed during your covered overseas employment, federal law may provide compensation and medical benefits even if the damage became clear only after the assignment ended.
If you are considering filing a Texas Defense Base Act claim for hearing loss, our team at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris could discuss how you should go about it. Contact us to understand your options and move forward with a clearer view of your claim.
