Tinnitus & Hearing Loss C&P Exam

[63Charlie]

Yesterday I reported to the Orlando VA Medical Center for the above-styled exam

As he escorted me into the exam room, he asked me a question in a low voice.

I couldn't understand what he said.

I replied, "What did you say?"

Then he spoke clearly and loud enough for me to understand him.

So I replied to his question.

The initial part of the exam involved inserting some kind of medical device in each ear canal, one side at a time, and I felt pressure and it made beeping noises.

Then came the tone response test where you tell them when you can hear the tone.

Finally, sentences were said where you have to identify a particular word and repeat that word.

After it was over, the examiner led me out of the exam room and walked about ten steps ahead of me.

I have spine problems and use a cane so I'm slow anyway.

I see the examiner standing in the corridor and he asked me another question in a low voice that I could not understand.

I asked him to repeat what he said, and he asked me in a louder voice, so I could understand him, "Do you have any more exams today?"

Which I replied, "No."

While in the exam room he asked me how the tinnitus affects me.

I told him that the constant ringing in my ears annoys the crap out of me.

I told him that I turn on a fan next to my bed each night when I go to bed, to help drown out the noise from the ringing in my ears.

He asked," Have I had my hearing checked lately?"

I told him , no.

He said, "What makes you think that you have hearing loss?"

I said, "My wife gets aggravated because I have to turn up the volume of the TV to be able to hear it."

I said, "I've had to stop watching TV in the room with her because it always starts an argument."

He also asked what my civilian job occupation is/was.

I told him I've been a HVAC technician since the early nineties.

He said so you were exposed to noise made by air conditioning compressors.

He asked me what my military occupation was and I told him I worked as a diesel repair mechanic as my MOS.

I told him I was also exposed during training to noise from firing .50 caliber machine guns, .30 caliber machine guns,M16 Rifles, live grenades, and artillery simulators.

He asked if I used hearing protection, and I told him not when repairing the diesel engines, and I don't remember if we did when firing our weapons during training.

I had nothing to hide but honestly this guy left me with a bad vibe and an unpleasant experience.

The last thing I noticed was, Holy mackerel did this guy have some large feet! 

His shoes might have been a size 18.

 

Edited April 24, 2016 by 63Charlie

[Grunt]

On 1/24/2017 at 7:19 PM, Buck52 said:

I think I would agree with the decision  but also ask for the P&T.  The benefits are super great with P&T.

Having this many S.C. Conditions   they should have gave you the scheduler 100% P&T Rating.

If any of these S.C. Conditions keeps you from working  they should have inferred the TDIU P&T with possibly SMC-S

THE 10% Increase with your hearing Now S.C. at 60% could boost you up to the extra scheduler b for the bump up to the TDIU if it keeps you from find marginal gainful employment or make less that 13.000 a year because of this S.C. hearing impairment, and with the other separate S.C. Conditions as high % as they are  you could also meet the criteria for SMC-S 1 H.B.

But if your happy with what they gave you  then thats ok too  its just that you can or should have recieved so much more.

jmo

Hi Buck,

I am receiving the SMC for housebound status. Is there anything else I should pursue like the P&T ? I am always concerned that they may go back and find reasons to reduce rather than increase. Been there with them before on this.

Thanks,

Wally

[Buck52]

I doubt they would try to reduced you....I would file for the P&T  you have to ask for it  request it  just show them that your disability warrants the P&T and you should have been awared the P&T At the time you were rated the 100%

if you can get a Dr to state your disability will not improve in your life time that's basically all you need and besides them not giving you the P&T Status should have been a CUE on them.

Hearing loss don't never improve.

Once a 100% rating has been made and especially with SMC S H.B. that usually means your disability is not expected to improve in your life time  and  for them to reduced you  would be a lot they would have to prove it and get from a medical specialist to state so......which they can't.  and they have to prove it twice  so  please get it out of your head you will be reduced requesting the P&T  you deserve that buddy.

you should get you an attorney and let him know what they did   and they should have inferred the P&T when they 100% rated you and the SMC.

Being P&T is more benefits  your spouse can go back to school and get ChampVA Insurance, all your state park fees are waved , you get a commissary ID Card, for drive on post privileges, many more benefits