Did you wait till you were out to get your disability rating? If so, how long before you made your first claim?

Cpl Vic Burk -The VA doesn't rate you anymore, Veterans Evaluation Services rates you. While VES is pretty anal about following the decision matrix, once you understand the rules that they pay by, you can almost predict the outcome. Here are the testing rules they follow. As a note, the reason I didn't have any issues is I had documentation of a serious hearing loss and a DA Waiver . https://vesservices.com/veswp/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/VA_Best_Practices_for_Audiology_Examinations-0819.pdf

CPT Lawrence Cable - Thanks for the info. I'm going to read this later today when I have time.

This is actually my 3rd hearing test later this morning . I also was told that “ my hearing loss was not at the threshold for service connection “ which is really confusing when I went in hearing great , have proved with my mos and service record that I was in situations that would allocate to my hearing loss . ***** please read the write up of said appointment that your going in for . I stumbled upon that yes I have hearing loss , yea it will get worse at this time service connection is not approved but veteran was giving hearing aid for therapy for tinnitus.” So the VA essentially gave me a $5,000 hearing aide to make me feel BETTER!! They should ask my family or wife what number I have the volume at or honey time I have to ask people to start over because they were talking on my left side . It’s almost like they make u feel like you have to dress up your appointment in order to get the benefits “WE ALL EARNED “ … sorry for the rant it’s been a long road with all of this red tape and it’s still not done

SPC Thomas Pitts - I feel your aggravation!

The VA back then was run by civilians who really didn't care. The VA today is run by Veterans who care.

PFC (Join to see) - I would point out that your rating is done by an outside agency, VES. It's all about giving them the documentation to justify a rating.

Wow, my Grandfather also waited and then got depressed fighting the system. Also WW2 vet, went in to the VA hospital complaining of chest pains, they thought heart attack but ended up being shrapnel from a Japanese grenade that was not documented in his medical records. According to him back then they just patched you up and sent you back in to fight. He also had a metal plate in his head from a sniper, no documentation. Other than unit citations, not one decoration, not even a purple heart. We tried but BCMR refused to do anything, even posthumously unless we could locate medical records. We tried sending them the VA records showing the shrapnel in his chest, still a no go. He died a year later at the grand age of 90. Really upset with the Army over that, everything he gave to his country and he couldn't get the medical care he needed, and then depressed even trying to fight it.

SPC Matt Ovaska the system punishes vets and especially those dealing with mental health issues that can make them harder to deal with. I am not saying that is you because anyone can get side tracked and forget an appointment.

Well, every appointment I've ever made was written on my calendar and the appointment card would be under a magnet on the fridge. The VA would send me a post card and an email reminder. They would call my cell to remind me. I can't for the life of me ever believe anyone could ever miss an appointment with the VA. I've never missed an appointment with anyone. I had no idea that they had made an appointment. I only found out when they sent me the expulsion letter. They knew I would not show so they could throw me out of the system.

GySgt Ray Harris - well said! I agree 100% I think the quality of VA care probably differs from region to region. I’m very lucky and satisfied to get treatment at what I feel is one of the best VA hospitals in the country.

I’ve been going to VA hospitals since 1993, they got me hooked on painkillers rather than fox what was wrong with me. Then out of the blue decided that because i wasn’t terminal that i was on too many meds, detoxed me off half, then said because i was a legal medical marijuana patient, which btw was recommended by my VA doctor, that i had to choose between the meds and the marijuana, I’m now five years of the meds. Yeah i have shît tons of pain, but i an awake to live my life instead of sleeping 18+ hours a day because of the drugs. All this time i had bad experiences, then last year i find a great VA physician assistant. She was on my side, would look at other ways to treat my pain. Six weeks ago i get a letter that they are closing that clinic, so i called my nurse there to find out where they are going so i can change to that primary care, well VA lost their lease and fired everyone in the clinic except one doctor who i never even saw. VA can stick my dirty feet after i walk thru cow dung.

Heck Thomas, I was a clutz. I thought everybody had ringing in the ears. But it got so loud that it would wake me up at night. I mentioned it to a friend and he told me that it was not normal to hear ringing all the time. Went to the VA and had three different hearing test done. Was granted 10% in left ear and 20% loss in right ear. They were going to give me hearing aids.