What is the first step to being compensated by the VA for hearing loss?

PFC Michael Chappell — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 19:39:30 -0500

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?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2024 8:50 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 20:50:24 -0500

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

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

Response by SSG Dale London made Feb 29 at 2024 10:03 PM

SSG Dale London — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 22:03:32 -0500

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.

Response by PO2 Frederick Deraney made Mar 1 at 2024 6:06 PM

PO2 Frederick Deraney — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 18:06:05 -0500

The VA requires the following for a favorable decision. You should have a current hearing test from a licensed audiologist. The hearing tests the VA requires to rate hearing loss, will require two types of audio testing – one is called the Maryland CNC test, and the other is a pure tone audiology test. The Maryland CNC test measures hearing loss using a 50-word exam that is designed to score how well you recognize the spoken word. The results of the Maryland CNC test help the VA determine your hearing damage, and whetther the severity of the damage qualifies for VA disability. The other hearing test is known as the Pure Tone Audiometric test, sometimes referred to as Pure Tone Audiometry or a Pure Tone Audiometry Test. This test measures overall hearing loss by determining the quietest tones you can hear while the test is administered. These tests are done without the use of assistive devices such as hearing aids; the intent is to learn how diminished your hearing is without the use of these devices.

Response by SrA John Monette made Mar 3 at 2024 7:58 AM

SrA John Monette — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 07:58:08 -0500

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

Response by 1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR) made Mar 4 at 2024 10:42 PM

1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR) — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 22:42:26 -0500

I seem to be in the same boat as you are. Even with exactly the same VA supplied equipment... I served on 40mm AntiAircraft guns in Panama, 75mm, 105mm, and 155mm Artillery units in Germany and Vietnam, Honest John Rockets in Fort Hood, Mortars in Vietnam, and lots of time shooting pistols and other weapons... Never saw or was offered hearing protectors! I have a constant ringing in both of my ears and the hearing aids are not great but they are somewhat helpful.
I served from 1960 to 1982 and don't think we can get a penny for our hearing loss! My medical records suck and I can't "prove" any of the hearing loss was military related. I have a ten percent disability now. What that means is they take 10% of my retirement pay from me and pay it to me through the VA. If I upped it to a 50 percent, they would take 50% out of my retirement pay and pay it through the VA. The only benefit is that it is non-taxable -- PEANUTS and not worth the effort!

Response by SSG Derrick Iozzio made Mar 7 at 2024 10:47 AM

SSG Derrick Iozzio — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 10:47:46 -0500

The VA has a "presumptive list" for hearing loss according to MOS.

Response by MAJ Ward Odom made Mar 7 at 2024 11:33 AM

MAJ Ward Odom — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 11:33:42 -0500

I am a county VSO and I have Veterans come in all the time with nothing but their birthday suit. If you have the paperwork, fine. Take it in. If you don't, don't delay trying to gather it up. Then let him/her get it for you and file the initial paperwork: The Intent to File mentioned elsewhere, a representation form so you can have assistance if you need to appeal.

As a side note: The VA issued hearing aids have Bluetooth and you can directly connect to a smart TV or, as I do, my cell phone.