Buck52

Burt, not sure if this helps you? or you may already know just letting ya know incase you didn't buddy......but have you gone to the VAMC (veterans Addmin Medical Center...near you? if not go there & sign up you will get a pic ID just take your DD-214...Usually you have to wait to see a Dr but it would be worth it and you may be service connected, Burt you don't have to be a combat vet to be service connected, who ever you talk with on the phone didn't know what they were talking about &if your service connected then you can be compensated for your loss of hearing....if you file a claim the people here at hadit can help you with it...if you don't file a claim you can still receive medical help and see an audiologist ect,,ect,, and maybe the mental clinic if your depressed. but you may already know all this? just passing the info to ya buddy.

oh yes def get a date stamp copy...back when I was doing my claim by mail I always sent the VA a return sign receipt ! just to make sure they got anything from me.

As for a only getting 10% for sc tinnitus I wish the VA would up that rating because it is very very depressing to say the least.

vync, Does this machine Marsona 1288A help mask your tinnitus? I too have severe tinnitus and have used the sound conditioner's but never used this one....my tinnitus sounds really werid to me coming from the inside out like thousands of crickets on a creek bank and the hiline wire hums are very loud I actualy had my spose to listren by my ears to see if she could hear anything...LoL... and even with both hearing aids on the tinnitus seems much worse I been back and forth to my Audiologist for ajustments and have them program to Bluetooth to watch tv ect,,ect,,but with this tinnitus its very hard to hear what is said...so..I just kinda learn to live with it nothing seems to help mask mine....Tinnitus can sure drive ya up the wall at times and lately it seems it just gets worse! I may try his one! Thank you for this info.

Burt, Just incase you didn't know? if you served I think at least 30 days in the US Armed Forces& have honorable or medical discharge & Even if your not service connected you can still go to the VA Hosptial for medical treatment just take your DD-214 Lots of Veterans don't know this.

Burt, If you don't want to try any pain meds for your pain or get hook on them I certainly understand... you may want to try accuputure the VA has that and I was pretty skeptical of that until I tried it it helped my back lot with the pain..but everyone is different and what works for some may not work for others..but I did have that done to me and it help me with the pain. I go back every 3 months for that. As for as close tight places taking the MRI they can put you to sleep or put headpones on ya and black glasses...but its the only way to find out more about your problem. Just my 2 cents here.

if you have degentive bone disease (where your spin bones is like meassh).. I don't think the VA can help, they can go in and raise the bones via geoplastic or something like that? not sure what the procedure is called? its where the bones&spine have basicly desolved and there hitting the nerve, they go in with a fine needle and shoot some type of cement inside to raise the bone off the nerve...but have to be very careful because of the linement of the spine if to much then can cause the spine to get out of line sorta speak. I know this is not the correct grammar but I just tell it like I understand it. I would go to the VA let them do some test MRI's and see what they tell you...you may want to get a private Dr Opinion...you can get a hard copy disk of your MRI from VA & take it to your private Dr. Good Luck to ya Buddy

coastie72 your worthy and you seem like a very good man and likable friend...and a fellow veteran brother. With all that you have mention...Please let these good folks here at hadit help you! They all have expert advise and will help you. Were all in this together rather or not you had combat duty THE POINT IS YOUR A FELLOW BROTHER VETERAN!!. Things happen to us when we were lot younger and we start to notice them later on in life & if you had anything happen to you while in the service like loud noises or gun fire or anything that was hard on your ears but you never gave it a second thought....Well later on you started to notice your hearing is a lot worse....It could have been you was exposed to loud noise hearing loss can be caused by loud noise and later on gets worse and worse...its called noise induced hearing loss and can happen over time...and it could have happen while you were in the service...same thing with PTSD..if you were tramatized like removing dead bodys out of the water or anything like that...that can cause you stress and cause you all kinds of mental problems and it can be service connected. and you can be compensated for that....the good folks here at hadit can help you with all of this. and I promise you will make some lifetime friends here at hadit. God Bless I wish you the best hang in there buddy!

Oh ok Thank you carlie I forgot its just a ''proposal''. ..as in not happened....I stand corrected!

just my opinion, I believe that byte187 is refering to bad judgment with the VSO'S that don't take the time to read the CFR's or understand them and his point is that many many vets that are qualified for IU under the CFR'S and are mislead and give up on there claim. Under the said veterans current rating , my answer would be yes the veteran can be re evaluated to a higher rating under the CFR'S and be consider for IU. this can be done at the RO level! There's been expert advice on this subject... I agree with everyone here and its all great advise NO one is wrong here! To me if veteran files for an increase on his/her current SC disability's like byut187 has mention and feels his/her current condition has got worse and prevents him /her from working or having gainful employment...then sure file a claim for IU based on new evidence from recent IMO Dr's Reports stating that ...''it is likely to as not that this veterans disability's prevents he/she from working''. RO's should take this into consideration and if a new rating is an issue then the RS & DRO can expidite the ratings under the CFR's specs to award this veteran his/her claim as TDIU & depending on the nature of the said disability's if P/T is awarded. With this all said the veteran can still be denied we all know that... but should still be consider for IU under the CFR's Just my 2 cents.

rot in hell you mean! grrrrr

This is great valuable info here...basicly what this DRO is saying ''its better to solve the vets claim with DRO's....I agree with that. but so many claims are denied and the appealing process starts...and from what I experience with other vets they just give up and that's dang shame, because its not the vets fault if the RO OR BVA losing the vets claim/claims...while doing other projects....this whole subject is about our veterans & to me they should be given the up most respect and get their claims processed asap to a decision either via expedite or a ruling so the vet can decide what he/she needs to do...NOD's are good.CUE's. are good its how quickly there processed that matters to the Vet and hope there not lost/or forgotten in the way this process works. What this DRO mention has some great information in it...read it and keep it handy. In my opinion if you take official documentation/evidence and a DRO that will listen & read your evidence even if something is worded wrong, like he mention something pertaining to the same meaning but worded different as long as it is worded for the issue at hand & leaning in favor of the vet the DRO Can base his decision on that. That's what they get paid to do...most vets that get turn down and without the help of Hadit or a good Attorney the vet gives up Like Gastone mention Asking for a Informal Hearing is a good thing where the vet can face his decision maker basicly ''The DRO''...where you usually sit in this room at a long table with microphones /recording devises ect,,ect,,and you tell them about your disability /disability's present your evidence!!! I won my claim at a informal Hearing also , I got thumbs up from the DRO had a cup coffee and then he went to work expedite my claims process and I had my decision in a hour that was it ,week later got my award letter..but to be honest with everyone I was a nervous wreck...I was thinking not so much with my claim and all my evidence but mostly I was thinking what am I going to do if I'am denied? appeal? I been told appeals could take months/ years...I think I know why now. .However the informal Hearing was the best thing I did...but I realize every vets claim/claim's are different and has to be handle differently...and all these great people here at ''Hadit.com are here to help all our veterans....just do what they tell you and you will prevail. I'll Always be grateful to this wonderful site and to Ms Tbird and all the highly intelligent wonderful people here at Hadit!

Thanks Brother, I understand what you mean now...I will check that ILP out! The only thing is ,my spouse still works and that's one of the reasons I have to pay taxes on my SSR...if she didn't work then I don't think I'd have to pay taxes because the SSR is under 12000.00 Yearly.

Gastone, Yes Sir My Award letter does state Awarded TDIU P/T with no future exams. My spouse gets champ VA and we both got our military ID's...We both use the VAMC for our Health provider, they saved my spouse life about 9 years ago..they (VAMC D'rs she had open heart surgery...So were both very Greatful to the VA...We don't use all the bennies but the ones we do use is a God Send to this family especially the health care and the property tax was a super help for us. Question? why should I check into the Independent living program? I may need it later on in life...but right now its just me & my spouse...she is in bad health too..but some how she keeps us both going. Thanks for all your help This may not be anything to worrying about I ain't got anything from RO yet...this is just me worrying what if's ect,,ect,,,

Okay Gotcha Buddy! Thanks!

I understand, but I don't have any earned income! I just get my VA bennies is all, I did work before I had to stop working in 1999 Filed for increased with VA...and went back forth with them for a while until I won my claim TDIU..that was back in 2003. I mean they '' the IRS'' says I have to pay taxes on my Social Security Retirement. (937 month)...because my spouse still works & makes over 32000.00. The VA compensation is non-taxable but we file joint on our taxes..the only tax we pay is what she makes, but now I got to pay taxes on my Retirement because its consider income...I don't understand that? so I'm thinking if the VA sees I pay taxes will they think I'm working? which I'm not. I just don't want to go through all this fighting with the VA anymore...about this? I like to went insane last time fighting for what they did give me (at my RO Hearing) ... I don't work&can't work and I'll never jeperdize what I get from the VA. I just need peace of mind I guess.....but someone once told me ''there's no ''peace of mind'' when it comes to the VA. Thanks in Advance!

Congratulations Gastone thats great Buddy! To John 999 You mention above that the VA looks at the taxes...my question? I am receiving TDIU P/T and have been for 13 years now ..I turn 62 a few months ago since I was denied SSDI when I filed...was denied twice...anyway I just never did refile for SSDI (stupid on my part).....and on my 62nd birthday (this year) I filed for Social Security Retirement. (Its just the mimium 937.00)...for my prior working before I had to stop working 1999 ect,,ect,, Now they say I have to pay taxes on the Retirement because my spouse still works and makes over 3200.00 yearly. If the VA sees I pay taxes on my Social Security Retimement.....what happens? will they think I'm working! because I'm not I can't work and not worked in 15 since 1999. sorry for being so stupid but should I be worried?

Oh ok well if you just got an increase in Sept 2014 to 50%...then you might want to wait a while to refile for increase on this claim , but then again it depends on your hearing test and the last one from 30 to 50% ... if they show NO more loss in your hearing you will probably be denied and just kept at your 50%. they shouldn't reduce it.....that's why you need to compare these test before you submit a claim. If you get 10% for tinnitus that should put you at 60% and you can't work because of this disability then file for TDIU..and you prove to the VARO you can't work because of your bad hearing or that you can't do the job you was trained for...the only thing is here...if there's any job you can do like computer work or work alone, You may want to get in to a VA Rehab and see if there's any type jobs you can do with your hearing loss & you take these test kinda like the test when you first went in the service jobs like computer skills work alone ect,,ect,,..if those test are below I think 60 then your rehab officer can write a letter for you stating Based on this veteran disability ''its not fesible to retrain this veteran at this time ect,,ect, or similar ...this is more evidence for ya, Then Extra Scheduler will get you the rating you need if your 60% to TDIU. ''Note'' just remember the VA can schedule a com & pen anytime even with your IMO's & Auduoigist reports, Its like they accept IMO's, However It's them agreeing with them is the point! If they look at two reports IMO'S & VA Reports..usually if there close with one another they usually award..but if there's a quite a bit difference they probably use the lesser..&.base there decision on that. this is just my opinion but a lot of it depends on the DRO '' is he/she having a good day or a bad day''??? ect,,ect,,,!!! Good Luck Buddy! & Thank you for your service.

Just my 2 cents, Don't worry as to much what you look like buddy you can't see hearing loss??...duh!! You should go get your last hearing test from VA and look at it ... read your award letter on the 50% & see if they used that to increase your rating to 50% ? I'm not sure how long its been since your last hearing test & I don't think that really matters, if your hearing has got worse (which it certainly can usually Noise Induced Hearing loss can happen over time months years thers no set time on that. I'd go get a IMO from at a Ear Nose & Throte Dr or quilfied/state certified Auduoligist (private test) and compare your last test with the VA...Simply take your VA test to a private certified Auduoligist .&..After you take the private test...then ask that Auduoligst to compare the test.....if your hearing shows its worse ask that Auduoligist to write you a letter as to the tune of this veterans hearing has got worse and they can compare the scale levels of your hearing that & your going to file a claim with the VA...I don't think it matters to the VA if you wear hearing aids or not there suppose to use your natural ability to hear...you take them off for the hearing test ...right! If you file for an increase and they prepose to reduce your rating...file NOD & Ask for a RO Hearing...the DRO should be educated enough that he/she knows that Nose Induced Hearing Loss does not get any better...I never heard such a thing!!! Hearing test & Auduoligist letters is about all the evidence you can use other that notorized statements from family and friends telling how bad your hearing has got ect,,ect,, maybe from about 6 or 7 people....your 50% hearing loss at present I think the limit with VA profound hearing loss around 60 to 70% the SSA is more around 80% not sure on these % but fairly close...that's almost completely deaf my friend. in MHO if your hearing worsen and can't understand people and it keeps you from being gainefully employed that's USUALLY automatic for TDIU hearing aides are sometimes good but at this high % and with tinnitus they don't work like they should...people that has good hearing don't understand that. Good Luck Buddy!

Gottcha Buddy! I don't know what happen to that VA Dr either,? He clearly made some errors.

Thanks DDuck After I see the VA Doc I'll know more not sure if I'll ask the doc to say this was caused from AO...Or help with my claim.. I'll use an IMO for that..I don't trust the VA Dr's anymore. I may not fiile claim on presump AO? IDK? I am hoping they can tell me what's wrong with my prostate? because so for yes I been very lucky. Lloyd, sorry bud your having so much problems and been/going through what you been through hang in there buddy things will get better Thank you for sharing this...I will say a prayer for ya buddy& Thank you for your service

That's Funny DDuck,,,,,I know what ya mean...I have the same problem....only my better half accuses me of getting into big hurry zip up to soon ect,,ect,,, when she goes to wash & finds the (yellow stains) but now were both worried so idk? just have to ask the Doc about this, my appointment is next month....the prostate meds I'm taking don't seem to be helping? taking them for a year now. I tried the TP also don't work to good for me..... I hope we you and I and other vets out there can get this problem solved but if you had it for all those years don't sound to promising to me......keeping clean is a me when I change my underwear I take a shower each time usally 2 to 3 x daily but it sure is getting tiresome. Thanks for your story I got a laugh out of that one...LoL

oh yeah DDuck I understand what you mean about all this and all what you say here makes sense ... I appreciate this site and its members, I realize this is a site for advice and I hold no one liable ..and the medical conversations are just that were just talking about it from one Vet to another what kind of questions to ask the Dr, and about how to win your VA claim/claims I don't have anyone to talk to about this and I appreciate each and everyone of you guys & gals Here at hadit ..I need to see a Dr to get a diagnose. I will get second opinion...I will be more specific with the Dr's & ask more question's ... This site and the members such as yourself are great...I realize what you guys are saying and DDuck has some great information....and I know he will win his claim with his prostate problem. If I have it or have to use a material that needs change 4 times a day and all the things DDuck mention I probably will File an A.O. I Check and it is in the AO Regeristry about prostate & different problems altho its a presumption from AO....Back in my active duty days over in Nam.. I like advise and read opinions from other vets its why I come in here, I understand what DDuck mention about medical advise using the internet....to me my fellow Vets are like Brothers & honor there friendship & trust. Thanks in Advance

oh ok...as for as the female Dr that don't bother me to much as long as she is good at what she knows ,,, its just that I always had a male Doc just somewhat uncomfortable but but its fine your correct Gender is not a problem...I Hope to get this solved soon or try to at least...worries me, thinking bout it..but maybe things will be alright. Oh as for as filing a claim, I probably won't just getting some advise and info in here... I was just curious if AG had anything to do with it or getting the cancer Thanks DDuck!

Thanks guys I sure will get a second opinion... one reason they checked my prostate I mention my tribble to them...I was going for a 6 month check-up when you go do labs and 2 hours later see the Doc but they never mention my PSA's other than say everything looks ok......I ask the VA Dr about my PSA's and he showed me on the computer if anything was high or way off it would be in red lettering...I ask him if there was a ''specific blood test to check for my prostate he said yes and ordered one and that test checked ok too..so maybe its not cancer. kinda private here sorry.... but I can't ejaculate either it feels like I do but nothing comes out...maybe a little but not as much and more liquefied...is that something to worry about? should I tell my DOC? Thanks everyone I appreciate this info...Only thing the last time I went my primary Doc of the last 10 years or so He transferd to NC and I had to see a female Dr...not there's anything wrong with it just makes me bit nervous is all. This is all at the VAMC.....BUT I'm going to get an appointment soon with a civilian private IMO Dr about this. And go to the VAMC and get my medical records & check my PSA's and take them to the IMO Dr Thanks again Everyone!!!