Posted on Feb 29, 2024
What is the first step to being compensated by the VA for hearing loss?
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I served in an Artillery Unit in Germany from September 7th, 1977 to the end of February 1980. M109a1 Self-Proppelled Howizters. I was 17 years old. Then I re-upped for Motor Transport Operator, 64C, Truck Driver... June 24, 1980, to November 1982. I think I used the VA Hospital less than 4 times since I was Honorably Discharged. I noticed I was saying 'Huh?', 'What?', and 'Excuse me, say that again' quite often. I would joke back at my friends when they ask, 'Are you deaf or something?' I would say, 'Probably so, I was in Artillery and around large trucks.'
But since getting out of The Army in 1982, I never had my hearing tested, until... Until I moved to Virginia and was trying to get into my local CBOC, and I was able to.. My Primary Doctor scheduled me for all sorts of tests. My hearing... It's so bad that I have hearing aids. I can hear a WHOLE lot BETTER. Severe damage in the left ear, and moderate in the right ear. All this time I didn't know just how bad my hearing was. and is.
I'm angry because I didn't know. Even with the hearing aids in my ears, I constantly hear this white noise.
Attached are the hearing aids I got through The VA. There is another piece of equipment, that attaches to my smartTV so that I can hear the TV through my hearing aids.
What is the first step for me to do to be compensated for my hearing lost?
But since getting out of The Army in 1982, I never had my hearing tested, until... Until I moved to Virginia and was trying to get into my local CBOC, and I was able to.. My Primary Doctor scheduled me for all sorts of tests. My hearing... It's so bad that I have hearing aids. I can hear a WHOLE lot BETTER. Severe damage in the left ear, and moderate in the right ear. All this time I didn't know just how bad my hearing was. and is.
I'm angry because I didn't know. Even with the hearing aids in my ears, I constantly hear this white noise.
Attached are the hearing aids I got through The VA. There is another piece of equipment, that attaches to my smartTV so that I can hear the TV through my hearing aids.
What is the first step for me to do to be compensated for my hearing lost?
Disability
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted 3 mo ago
Responses: 7
PFC Michael Chappell Gather all of your paperwork and schedule an appointment to talk to a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) at the VFW, DAV, etc. If you have ringing in your ears, your claim should include tinnitus. You can use white noise (other sounds) to help with the tinnitus. Good luck.
https://www.va.gov/disability/get-help-filing-claim/#:~:text=Go%20to%20eBenefits%20to%20find,code%2C%20or%20the%20organization%27s%20name.&text=Or%20search%20the%20VA%20Office,%2C%20state%2C%20or%20zip%20code.
tinnitus
https://www.va.gov/disability/get-help-filing-claim/#:~:text=Go%20to%20eBenefits%20to%20find,code%2C%20or%20the%20organization%27s%20name.&text=Or%20search%20the%20VA%20Office,%2C%20state%2C%20or%20zip%20code.
tinnitus
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1st step - contact the VA and let them know you intend to file for compensation. It's called an "Intent to File" and as long as you get your formal application in before a year is up from the time you notified them you are filing, the date of your notification is the date they will pay you from if you are successful. This can mean a few months and up more than a year's back-pay of you win.
Next - collect your paperwork - especially your medical records - and find your first and last audiograms. The army had to test your hearing at the MEPS station and periodically throughout your service. They should be in your med file. If your last audiogram shows your hearing is poorer than your first then you have a great shot at proving service connection.
Carefully comb your medical records for anything that may be compensable and note it.
Finally, contact the VFW, DAV or some other veterans service organisation that had experience filing claims and get their help. They don't charge anything and can make a huge difference to your success or failure.
Good luck - friend. Getting compensated for hearing loss is one of the toughest claims to win. They set the bar so high that you practically have to be deaf to rate anything over 10%. Oh, that reminds me, since you have tinnitus, file for that too. It's an automatic 10% if they determine a service connection.
Next - collect your paperwork - especially your medical records - and find your first and last audiograms. The army had to test your hearing at the MEPS station and periodically throughout your service. They should be in your med file. If your last audiogram shows your hearing is poorer than your first then you have a great shot at proving service connection.
Carefully comb your medical records for anything that may be compensable and note it.
Finally, contact the VFW, DAV or some other veterans service organisation that had experience filing claims and get their help. They don't charge anything and can make a huge difference to your success or failure.
Good luck - friend. Getting compensated for hearing loss is one of the toughest claims to win. They set the bar so high that you practically have to be deaf to rate anything over 10%. Oh, that reminds me, since you have tinnitus, file for that too. It's an automatic 10% if they determine a service connection.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I didn't find it difficult at all. I believed all that stuff about how hard it was to get a rating and if your hearing is bad, it's not. Now I did have a H3 rating and a DA hearing waiver, but my hearing loss sounds like it was comparable to the PFC's. It's all done on a matrix. If you have a current test, you can find the matrix online and make a pretty good guess at where you land. I was just looking to get them to provide hearing aids and ended up with a 50% rating. If his medical records show a partial loss while he was Active, he should be OK.
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To get service-connected after all these years is going to be difficult. More than likely the examiner will say your hearing loss is due to age. But definitely file a claim. If you have private medical records documenting decreases in hearing over the years, you’ll have a much better chance of getting compensation
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