{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-342.7305","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 342.7305","heading":"Compensability of occupational hearing loss -- Authority for","body":"administrative regulations -- Rebuttable presumption as to employer liability.\n(1) In all claims for occupational hearing loss caused by either a single incident of\ntrauma or by repe titive exposure to hazardous noise over an extended period of\nemployment, the extent of binaural hearing impairment shall be determined under\nthe \"Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.\"\n(2) Income benefits payable for occupational hearing loss shall be as provided in KRS\n342.730, except income benefits shall not be payable where the binaural hearing\nimpairment converted to impairment of the whole person results in impairment of\nless than eight percent (8%). No impairment percentage for tinnitus shall be\nconsidered in determining impairment to the whole person.\n(3) The commissioner shall provide by administrative regulation for prompt referral of\nhearing loss claims for evaluation, for all medical reimbursement, and for prompt\nauthorization of hearing enhancement devices.\n(4) When audiograms and other testing reveal a pattern of hearing loss compatible with\nthat caused by hazardous noise exposure and the employee demonstrates repetitive\nexposure to hazardous noise in the workplace, there shall be a  rebuttable\npresumption that the hearing impairment is an injury covered by this chapter, and\nthe employer with whom the employee was last injuriously exposed to hazardous\nnoise for a minimum duration of one (1) year of employment shall be exclusively\nliable for benefits.","path":["KRS Chapter 342"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=47626","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:58:32Z","sha256":"102d404678ed5304494379c7aa955e677ec1d1af3bf5d8776a26022d3f0470ae","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-342.730","next":"us-ky/krs-342.732"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}