VA Regional Office - Closed

When I asked at the hearing clinic, I was told you have to be literally deaf to get anything more than a 0% service connection for hearing loss. Tinnitus on the other hand is worth 10%, whether it is a soft buzzing in your ear or a trumpet playing revelry 24/7. The award of either rating should get you free hearing aids from the VA. And they're not cheap ones either, middle of the road, they'd cost several thousand through a civilian provider. Also the batteries are free through the VA. I don't recommend the rechargeable hearing aids.


https://www.resound.com/en-us/veterans

 

Wait, tinnitus = hearing aids?

You serious?

 

I believe so, (I don't work for the VA, so no guaranties) if you have tinnitus you can get hearing aids.

 

I'll have to ask on my appointment.

It's bad on my right side, left is really good.

 

I read somewhere the tinnitus rating is going away this year or next, unless you have associated hearing loss. People with a current tinnitus rating will be grandfathered, but no new stand-alone tinnitus ratings will be approved.

 

That would be unfortunate. I believe you can have tinnitus without having significant hearing loss, and tinnitus can be a serious issue. I had an uncle that developed tinnitus (non service related) and had serious suicidal issues dealing with it. If it is going away, I hope they will bring about a better rating for hearing loss. I've got significant hearing loss in both ears, but all I got for a rating was 0% service connected. At all freqs I have some loss and at higher freqs I can't hear anything until it gets to 70+db.

 

I have fairly severe tinnitus but the VA says my hearing is great. My wife does not agree with their assessment.

 

Went they stopped rating hearing loss for much of anything years ago they said its because you should’ve been wearing hearing protection. They have a point, the number of kids I see walk up to a running helicopter with nothing over/in their ears is mind blowing. If you’re that lazy you don’t deserve government money for life.

 

True hearing protection is provided and should be worn on the flight line. Sometimes in some
Applications it’s not practical to wear, if you’re at a FOB and are eating chow when incoming fire happens and you responded, you’re not going to take time to put ear pro on, you’re going to go to work. Also, even while wearing double hearing protection a loud jet engine can cause hearing loss.

I see both sides of the argument, perhaps the VA could/should rate at 0% and provide hearing aids for those who have had hearing loss.

 

For sure. Most of my hearing loss is from when I was a scout and did all kinds of fun/dumb stuff without ear pro because you just couldn’t or didn’t have time to wear it. In aviation there’s not much excuse 90% of the time.

 

During training, the earpro you got most times wasn't even acceptable (but could help).

During live fire, you worry more about where shots are coming from than putting in earpro.

It's clearly obvious those that create such regulations never went to combat.

 

That’s the truth about pretty much all regulations.

 

Yep! I know on some aircraft when you’d have to stand ground on long maintenance engine runs even with double hearing protection guys could develop noise fatigue and hearing issues.

as far as regulations go, the people that make these should have to have experience with whatever they’re regulating. All the protections and safety measures are great in fantasy land but in many practical cases they’re not reasonable. Like it was stated before, when bullets are flying you’re more after locating where it’s coming from and returning fire than putting in ear plugs

 

An update to this thread; just got done with my appointment.

Without adding more context than needed, the doctor that saw me today told me a few things I wasn't even aware of.

1. He emphasized how he loves that things are the way they are now; he's been doing this for well over a decade long when C&P exams were a nightmare for anyone to do.

Reason being, all my information is available to him at the computer.

2. Why didn't I file sooner? Apparently he pulled up and printed a report dating back to 2006 where it was documented that I was experiencing back pain and numbness.

This was after we got back to CONUS

3. I learned that I have flat feet. After several visual examinations, he quickly concluded that not only is my back pain (and lack of movement) readily apparent, but that my flat feet are only multiplying the effects.

He insists on trying to get me to 100% on this alone and was very surprised (and thankful) that the exam request came from someone he personally knows.

Apparently I must know someone based on where/how my exam request came in as he was specifically named to examine me.

Worst case if I don't get moved up to 100%, he said I need to claim fallen arches because it is documented that I did not have flat feet, and that I do now.

Got referred to have a primary physician there as he wants me to get x-rayed for my feet (as well as an MRI for my back) because he said it will only get worse unless I get custom inserts/soles for my feet.

 

Actually just got a call from the doctor - he wants me to go back today when I can and he will get me x-rayed for my flat feet.

He just input the request for it to get it added to my claim.

 

I'm in Maine and have had real good luck with anything VA related. I joined the DAV after they helped me with my claims after retirement, I can't recommend a more competent group of people. This coming October I'll be retired 20yrs and yes, hearing aids in both ears, Bluetooth ta boot, enjoy listening to music and podcasts much more. Hope you all get the care you need, it feels like an uphill battle and is not always quick but stay on top of it and be persistent. God Bless

 

Results of said x-ray already -

TECHNIQUE: Standing AP, lateral, and oblique views of the right

foot.


COMPARISON: None.


FINDINGS:

Minimal degenerative change with a small plantar spur. No acute

foot fracture or dislocation is seen.

Preservation of the joint spaces. Mild flattening of the

longitudinal arch of the foot suggesting pes planus.

No radiopaque foreign body or soft tissue gas is seen.


Impression:

1. Minimal degenerative change with no acute foot fracture or

dislocation seen.

2. Evidence of pes planus.




TECHNIQUE: Standing AP, lateral, and oblique views of the left

foot.


COMPARISON: None.


FINDINGS:

Minimal degenerative change with a small plantar spur. No acute

foot fracture or dislocation is seen.


Preservation of the joint spaces. Mild flattening of the

longitudinal arch of the foot suggesting pes planus.


No radiopaque foreign body or soft tissue gas is seen.


Impression:

1. Minimal degenerative change with no acute foot fracture or

dislocation seen.


2. Evidence of pes planus.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Hadn't noticed the email until the doctor called me to go over the results of his findings, to which he referred me to their Podiatrist.

Overall just glad I've always had a good experience at VA hospitals themselves and glad this doctor did more to point out other things I had wrong with me. I really thought being at some level of pain every single day was just the norm, but it helps now knowing some of the causes for that pain.

Hoping the custom soles he recommended I need to get really help.

 

As of today, the claim has been moved from Step 5 (deciding what the rating will be, since Friday) to Step 7 which is Final Review.

 

Closed, 90%

 

Happy for you, it's a great step forward and will give you time to claim anything additional and be thorough with documentation if necessary.