[Hearing Loss And Tinnitus]

Thank you all for your comments and advice. I will take what you all told me to heart and go see my doctor again and try to get a statement. Hopefully he will do it for me. Some doctors are a little skidish about making a committed statement if it involves any type of disability claim. I suppose they're concerned about a repcussion or what ever. We'll see....

[Hearing Loss And Tinnitus]

I recently discovered a hearing loss in my left ear. It was an accut onset so I went to the doctor who gave me a hearing test. It was revealed that I have 70% loss in my left ear and 30% loss in my right ear. I also have tinnitus in my left ear. I talked to my Vet Rep and he advised that I should file a claim for a disability for it. He asked me what I did while in the service. I told him I was a Radioman in the submarine service. While on board we sent and received Morse code and monitored teletype signals while at sea. Sometimes the signal wasn't very good so the volume had to be turned way up. We stood 6 hr on and 12 hr off watches. We also experienced pressure differentials on the boat at times causing our ears to pop. There were loud blasts of air at times, loud machinery (i.e., diesel engine, pumps, turbines, etc.) from the engine compartment and through out the boat.

My military medical record seems to only record a pre-submarine school hearing exam. There were other audio reports in the record but I don't remember taking audio tests after assignment to my duty station. I also don't recall an exit audo test upon separation from the service. After separation from the service I'd worked in construction where I'd experience loud noises and finally, prior to retirement I worked in law enforcement. We had to requalify at the gun range twice a year. We wore hearing protection at the range. My Vet Rep said that I should file for a disability. But I'm not sure about his oppinion since I have no medical history of hearing loss since military service until now.

Based on this brief history would it be feasable to submit a claim to the Va for disability? I am currently receiving a 10% disability for back injury and awaiting a response on an appeal for a neck injury.