The Panel of Administrators approved amendments to the Rehabilitation Services and Claims Manual to provide a new commencement date for a non-traumatic hearing loss pension where there is no loss of earnings (under Section 7(3) of the Workers Compensation Act). Policy item #31.80, paragraph 4 is amended to provide that where compensation is being awarded under Section 7 of the Act, but not in respect of any loss of earnings or impairment of earning capacity, then, subject to Section 55, pension benefits shall be calculated to commence as of the earlier of either the date of application or the date of first medical evidence that is sufficiently valid and reliable for the Board to establish a pensionable degree of hearing loss under Schedule D of the Act. Where the date of application is used as the commencement date, subsequent testing must support a pensionable degree of hearing loss as of the date of application. These amendments took effect September 1, 1999.