Does anyone have experience MED Board due to hearing loss? What disability percentage might someone get?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 20:33:58 -0500

Response by Sgt Shannon Barradas made Dec 1 at 2016 8:40 PM

Sgt Shannon Barradas — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 20:40:57 -0500

I went to a MED board when I was getting out of the Air Force, but not for hearing. Hearing loss is generally given 10%, but can go as high as 100%. It is all dependent on how bad the hearing loss is and if you have language is affected, for higher ratings. Once you get the MED board finished then you can apply to the VA through the DAV service officer for an increase and for anything else that has caused injury or illness while you were in. Hope this helps. Shannon

Response by SPC Darin Taylor made Dec 1 at 2016 9:03 PM

SPC Darin Taylor — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 21:03:00 -0500

The only true answer to your question would be anything from 0% to 100%. The VA Disability Rating for hearing loss is determined by 38 CFR Book C 4.85 - 4.87A.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2016 9:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 21:25:56 -0500

Hearing loss is one of the tougher ones to get a disability rating for. They don't test for actual hearing loss. What they test is your ability to comprehend the words you are hearing. Even if all you hear sounds like a Charlie Brown Christmas special, if you can make out enough of the word to guess it accurately then that is good enough and you get a lower rating.

Response by CWO2 John Markiewicz made Dec 1 at 2016 10:39 PM

CWO2 John Markiewicz — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 22:39:04 -0500

My Med Board back in 1984 rated me at 10% for hearing, but I already had 23 years in so they retired me with 10% of my retired pay tax exempt. I then filed with the VA and got 10% for Hearing Loss, 10% for Chronic Vertigo (nerve loss inner ear caused hearing and balance problems) and several years later they added 10% for Tinnitus. The biggest benefit of going to the VA is they also picked up my High Blood Pressure at 0% which later turned into Cardiovascular Disease when I had Quadruple By-pass and my diabetes, both of which the Navy denied I had despite having treated me for both during my Naval Career. All these ultimately got me to my current rating of 80% with some Special Monthly Compensation added in. It can be a hassle but you never accept the Med Board rating as final and always take it to the VA.

Response by SPC Paul Jennings, J.D. made Dec 1 at 2016 11:03 PM

SPC Paul Jennings, J.D. — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 23:03:30 -0500

It will depend. If your not at the PEB stage then the hearing loss is simply the condition that triggers the medical board. Additional disabilities could be found to not meet retention standards and warrant being added to the disabilities evaluated by the PEB. As such, the hearing loss could be but one part of the overall disability evaluation.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2016 12:45 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 00:45:08 -0500

You might want to talk with your local VA Hospital. I had a Commander that works for the VA in disability claims office, and she stated hearing loss is no longer eligible for pay % as it is preventable.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2016 4:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 16:35:41 -0500

i'm not sure of med board but va next to impossible these days, served 8" arty 85-87, was also basic demo qualified, 31 years of going to ranges, rifle, 203, m-2, m-60, driving all sorts of vehicles, rg33 ambush in Iraq, but I was a medic and could've been exposed, on my rebuttal they agreed with Iraq but because i'm rc and work in a factory, mow my lawn, cut trees down and hunt no way