stillhere

I am SC secondary to DM2 also and your right it was a lot of work but once you are SC your SC so why bother again.

I have the same exact thing I am rated 20% for DM2, 0% HTN and 60% for CAD with an old 05 Heart attack.

OK thanks again Berta. The audiologist I am seeing now has said she will sign whatever I write to a point (I think she likes! NAH!) Anyhow any suggestions before I send it to her would be appreciate it.

I found this on another vets site but hey I don't know how accurate it is but it is informational: Here is a basic explanation on what the numbers actually mean: GAF 100-91 Superior functioning in a wide range of activities. Life's problems never seem to get out of hand, is sought out by others because of his or her many positive qualities. No symptoms. 90-81 Absent or minimum symptoms (e.g. mild anxiety before an exam), good functioning in all areas, interested and involved in a wide range of activities, socially effective, generally satisfied with life, no more than everyday problems or concerns ("e.g.. an occasional argument with family members) 80-71 If symptoms are present, they are transient and expectable reactions to psychosocial stressors (e.g., difficulty concentrating after family argument); no more than slight impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g temporarily falling behind in schoolwork). 70-61 Some mild symptoms (e.g., depressed mood and mild insomnia) OR some difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., occasional truancy, or theft within the household), but generally functioning pretty well, has some meaningful interpersonal relationships. 60-51 Moderate symptoms (e.g.. flat affect and circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks) OR moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., few friends, conflicts with peers or co-workers). 50-41 Serious symptoms(e.g., suicidal ideation, severe obsessional rituals, frequent shoplifting) OR any serious impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., no friends, unable to keep a job). 40-31 Some impairment in reality testing or communication (e.g... speech is at times illogical, obscure, or irrelevant) OR major impairment in several areas, such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood (e.g depressed man avoids friends, neglects family, and is unable to work: child frequently beats up younger children. Is defiant at home, and is failing at school). 30-21 Behavior is considerably influenced by delusions or hallucinations OR serious impairment in communications or judgment (e.g., sometimes incoherent, acts grossly inappropriately, suicidal preoccupation) OR inability to function in almost all areas. (e.g. stays in bed all day; no job, home, or friends). 20-11 Some danger of hurting self or others (e.g., suicide attempts without clear expectation of death, frequency violent; manic excitement) OR occasionally fails to maintain minimal personal hygiene (e.g smears feces) OR gross impairment in communication (e.g. largely incoherent or mute.) 10-0 Persistent danger of severely hurting self or others. (e.g. recurrent violence) OR recurrent inability to maintain minimal personal hygiene OR Serious suicidal act with clear expectation of death. What does the GAF mean to my overall rating? Well, its subjective. some people get a GAF of 45 and receive a 100% rating and others with a GAF of 45 could end up with a 50% rating. Its really just a guide. If you would like to see a general guide on how the GAF may correspond to ratings here it is:"The rule of thumb for the amounts the VA assigns for psychiatric disabilities is: GAF Percentage 0-40=100% 41-50=70% 51-60=50% 61-70=30% 71-80=10% 81-100=0% Raters may choose to ignore this, but it does give you a general idea of where you stand.

I suspect with my hearing as bad as it is it will more than likely rate at 40% and with the tininitus another 10% that would probaly get me to 90% Thanks for the response glad for your Dad too.

Thanks I was going to just post HUH? but I was not in a laughing mood this morning. Sorry! This damn depression or PTSD my shrink says really has me in the dumps!

hi Berta, thanks for popping in you helped me so much in the past on my DB2 claim and my Heart Attack, And now the VA has finally recognized it's folly! About time! Yes I have the full audio test and have sumbitted actually 2 nexus letters and this will be the third. My claim is still at my RO waiting to be certified to the BVA. Someone at another site told me to go and send in the letters and maybe they will still reopen at the RO and judge it?? Not sure on that, Have you heard that too?

Door Opens To Health Claims Tied To Agent Orange By James Dao Under rules to be proposed this week, the Department of Veterans Affairs plans to add Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease and hairy-cell leukemia to the growing list of illnesses presumed to have been caused by Agent Orange, the toxic defoliant used widely in Vietnam. The proposal will make it substantially easier for thousands of veterans to claim that those ailments were the direct result of their service in Vietnam, thereby smoothing the way for them to receive monthly disability checks and health care services from the department. The new policy will apply to some 2.1 million veterans who set foot in Vietnam during the war, including those who came after the military stopped using Agent Orange in 1970. It will not apply to sailors on deep-water ships, though the department plans to study the effects of Agent Orange on the Navy.

Is this a joke??

Hey Pete, How have you been and thanks for all the help in the past from hadit! You are correct I used that same comment about the getting hit by a truck with the VA!!?? Anyhow with my hearing as bad as it is I would think I would get around 40% by the charts. Still would only kick me up ten% but it is the princible of the thing now. Thanks, Stillhere (good to see Berta is still around too)

Thank you for the response I know how you feel. I too have been at this for a long time. I hope this will finaly et my claim reopened and get a fresh look by todays standards. My claim has been closed since 84 and I have been trying to get it reopened since 07. I am already at 80% so this is because of what I am going to be like as far as my hearing in say 10 years if I make it? With what my other disablities are I am already going to leave this earth early.

To Whom it may concern: Patient was seen at this center on September 15, 2009 for a complete audiological evaluation. He complained of difficulty hearing in all listening situations and intermittent tinnitus that have been occurring for several years. Case history indicated no trauma to head, otalgia,or ottorrhea. After review of his military records complete C-file there is a history of excessive exposure to noise while in the military. He was exposed to gunfire,grenade launchers, helicopters, and large machinery constantly. Impressions: A severe to profound asymmetrical hearing loss was observed bilaterally. It is my professional opinion this hearing loss is more likely than not due to his military service and his history of his excessive noise exposure he suffered. Audiology Test Results: 1. Pure tone testing indicated an asymmetrical, bilateral, sensorineural hearing loss, poorer in the right ear. 2. Using the MD word recognition test, his scores represent a 68% in the left ear and could not test the right ear. your truly XXXXXX The above is my nexus letter from my audiologist in support of my BVA appeal. I would appreciate any feed back. Thank you, Stillhere

right ear puretone average 65 left ear purtone 55 word right ear 80% left ear 96 Rate? and this new one: right ear puretone avg. 117 left ear 84 word right ear 0 left ear 76% Rate? Thanks James I changed them above using 1,000/2,000/3,000 did it change any?? Thank you, Stillhere

OK thanks sent you a PM,

right ear puretone average 53 left ear purtone 47 word right ear 80% left ear 96 Rate? and this new one: right ear puretone avg. 105 left ear 84 word right ear 0 left ear 76% Rate? Thank you, Stillhere

yes if you don't mind when you have the time send me the link for that manuel you suggest. In my everyday work situstion (sales) I am losing more and more clients and my boss is a real jerk because of my hearing loss. My cell phone is pretty much the only phone I can hear on and even that has its limitations. You are correct I am virtually deaf and miss a lot. I have even resorted to asking people to send me and email in frustation after they have repeated themselves 3 and 4 times!

This almost reads like a total discription of my day. I have a very hard time working in sales and my numbers (comission) is way down and moviing lower. The VA while it is treating me good as far as my other disabilities I have been stressing out quite a lot over this. No one can fully understand a handicaped unless they have had it TOO.

I have a Maryland test and sent that in for the original IMO but the DR wrote that my condition was consitent with noise exposure in the military and they denied.Bu the way all of my test including thos at the VA show the exact same numbers. But in the SOC they are not saying that I don't have a hearing loss they are saying I need a professional opinion that connects it to my military service. I am a Vietnam Vet and spent my last year in service running high speed large printing presses. Both of my MOS's in service were involved with high noise exposure. I went back to the DR that wrote my first appeal but she had moved to another ENT office. I made an appointment to meet with her there but the day I went she was really booked up so she had another AUD. in the office do the evaluation. She told me she would write a letter for and also said she knew exactly what to write because she used to do C&P!!

OK when I applied in 83 for hearing loss the C&P stated and moderate to profound and a moderate to severe but they denied because of the exit exam. Back in those days they did not tell you why. The letter I got just said SC denied. I did not appeal back them and just said the hell with them. Then 07 I was told to try and get it reopend with the new evidence I had. They denied to reopen. I then appealed for a NOD DRO review and they denied again. I am waiting for them to certify my appeal to the BVA and see how that goes. What do you think??

The report that is of record for the 2008 does state "after review of records" I also just today met with another audiologist I have been seing for the past 4 months and she has reviewd all my records and said she would put it in a letter and state "more than likely is do to Military service",

On the separation exam a Dr. clearly wrote in the box where comments go "high frequency hearing loss. And yet the audio exam they were supposed to have given shows perfect hearing. That is the contradictory info on the exam. They had this in 84 and still did not question it?? By the way I have had an aide since 83 that I have paid for since then till 2005. I have yet not had anyone give an answer to that other than to shrug their shoulders? It just doesn't add up to me. State Virginia

Thanks for all the replies and opinions. Below is the nexus letter from my audiologist for my BVA appeal: Ok new evaluations from audiologist in support of my claim for hearing loss: CHIEF COMPLAINT: The Veteran, a 60year old male, was seen in my office on XXXX for pure tone and speech recognition evaluations. The veteran reports a significant history of noise exposure during his military career. He has a long history of hearing loss and tinnitus in both ears. The veteran currently wears a hearing aid in the left ear only. AUDIO TEST PERFORMED: Audio tests were performed including audiogram with tympanograms. AUDIO RESULTS: Otoscopic examination revealed both ear canals free of cerumen. Standard Puretone Audiometric procedures revealed a moderate to severe hearing loss in the left ear and a moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear. Significant asymmetries were noted from 750 through 8000Hz. NU 6 word list was utilist to obtain speech discriminations via live voice with a score of 76% at 90dB HL in the left ear. Speech discriminations could not be evaluated in the right ear, although a speech reception threshold of 95%dB HL was obtained in ear. PLAN OF CARE: Mr. XXXX, has a moderate to severe sensorial hearing loss in the left ear and a moderate to profound sensorial hearing loss in the right ear accompanied by constant tinnitus. It is more than likely than not that the tinnitus and hearing loss was caused by noise exposure while in the military. Continued hearing aid use is recommended for the left ear and should be considered for the right, ear along with cochlear implant candidacy. Annual audiometric evaluations are recommended for continued status assessment of the auditory mechanism and hearing conservation is recommended(hearing protection) whenever the veteran is exposed to excessive noise levels. Signed , Au D CCC-A

In my last denial for my hearing loss this is what it says: A March 2008 record from audiologist XXXX show you were seen for a complete evaluation. You reported difficulty hearing in all listening situations and intermittent tinnitus had been occurring for several years. The record notes excessive exposure to noise while serving in the military. Severe to profound asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss was noted bilaterally. The record does not provide and opinion that your current hearing loss was incurred or caused by your military service. Current medical evidence shows hearing loss.however the evidence received in connection with this claim does not constitute new and material evidence because it does not relate to an established fact necessary to substantiate the claim and does not raise reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Service connection denied as this was not incurred in or caused by your military service. QUESTION: Does this say they just want an opinion to grant this claim?? Are they saying that they understand I have a hearing loss and the rcords shows loud noise exposure in the record???

Hey Pete been a while since I posted here! How you doing? What did you mean above? I am also getting another letter from another AUDIO to ascertain this.

Depends on your LV injection factor # 30 and below 100%, 30 t0 50 60%, 50 to 65 is normal. Do you have a DX of heart disease? If you do get a electrocardiogram done or a stress test. Sometime the VA will rat on your mets test. My left vetrigul is at 46% so I am rated 60% disabled and SC. secondary to DB2.