uscg vet

Thank you for all of your replies. I would have answeres sooner but I couldnt find where I posted this question. Rookie mistake - sorry. Hey Ralph. I was on the Midget. 378 based out of Seattle Wa. High endurance cutter with 2 - 12 cyl diesel mains and 2 turbine engines. After e-city A school I was C-130 only and did not have any Helo time. Flight crew duties included SAR, Many, Many, Many hours of flight time. The use of all the grounds equiptment, diesel generators, huffer, ect..... I ruptured my ear drum while on active duty, but not while I was working. This happened shortly after my enlistment while I was an E-2 and is doccumented through out my medical record. I was on leave and fell water skiing. (I know the rupture is my fault and not that of the service.) Just being honest. I have a noticeable hearing loss in my right ear, and had intermediate ringing in both ears for quite some time, and more recently it is constant. Both in the Cutter and in Avaition We were strongly suggested to wear double hearing protection but most of the time on the Flight crew it was impossible to hear what was being said through the D/C's. (Head phones) The last hearing exam showed a loss but not enough to qualify for a service connection. ??? Thats where I was puzzled, i thought for sure I would get a SC with at least a zero. But now because of the ringing it is getting worse. Thats why I wanted to see if I can re open it. As for the SAR's in the 130's we didnt "see" but from 50 to 100 feet above the seene so I cant necessarily think of trama from a SAR. Though I know it would help. I am almost certain the Anxiety portion of it is from the Sar alarms waking me almost nightly while on duty, I am still jumpy and dont sleep well 6 years later. I am also now afraid to fly. This may sound silly but after working on the Air Craft for so long, and seeing what actually goes wrong with the plains and the quality of some of the Mechanics makes me very uncomfortable. We aided in Pilot training. All of the bad touch and goes that the new pilot's messed up on dosent help either. Thanks for all the suggestions Attack. I will read up on that link that you posted. I know I have to get the Personality Disorder changed, and hopefully that will help greatly. My Mental health and regular health VA doctors cant understand why it was denied, especially because of the documentation that is in my record. Vike That information is very helpfull. I printed it out and will hold it tightly with my claims so I can use it as a reference. I am doccumenting everything as much as I can for my claim. I didnt know that about the Depression and anxiety being one in the same, rating wise. I will talk with my shrink and get his advice on what to do about both symptioms.

Hello all, I am new to the site and I can realy use your help. I have been looking through the posts and I havent found exactly what I am looking for. Just to keep it short, I was discharged from the Coast Guard in 2001 with what they called a "Personality Disorder." Actually it was pretty bad deperession. I saw several mential health doctors and I was presciebed anti-deperession meds while I was in and I am still taking them 6 years later. Immediately after I was discharged I went to a VA advisor who put in several claims for me, after he reviewed my medical record. He chose them for me because I didnt know anything at the time. In 2001 - I was awarded a disibility of 10% left and 10% right for bilateral knee pain. and 10% for contact dermititus. I was denied Hearing loss. I was a AMT-2, C-130 mechanic, and part of a SAR flight crew. I also worked in the engine room of a ship as an E-2 and E-3. Much to my present doctors suprise, and mine now because I didnt know. I was never put in for a claim for depression. I recently did so 04/2006 and it was denied 10/2006. I have already filed a disagreement and hopefully will have a connection, but who knows. My medical record while I was in and the current one that I have now, do fully support my claim. My question is- because the "Personality Order" is "not depression" on paper, what should I do? Is there any thing else that I can do? I dont have a personality disorder but that is the rating they gave me to expidite my quick discharge and it seems to be nothing but a thorn in my side. My second question - Because my hearing loss claim was denied in 2001 and I did not file a disagreement at that time, is it closed forever? I ruptured my right ear drum while on active duty and worked around loud noises my entire enlistment. I have a noticeable hearing loss in my right ear and light to moderate ringing in both ears. What should I do? Would Tinnitus be a seperate claim? Third and last Question - To go along with my depression re evaluation should I try to include Anxiety with the new claim or should I put in a seperate claim for Anxiety. I am prescribed anxiety meds at this time and have been since my discharge. Thanks