68mustang

Saltydawg, I also have tinnitus in both ears and also hearing loss. I had my hearing tested by my audiologist and he stated that it was from my military occupation as a boilerman and engineman. I also had my hearing tested by QTC the contractor that provides medical exam for the VA. They also stated that I had a hearing loss. I am waiting for the VA to determine my claim now that the results have been submitted to them. I know how you feel with ringing in the ears 24/7. 68mustang

Thanks Ricky and Stretch. DoD does hide a lot of things. One of the things that DoD has refused to talk about is about asbestos being present on old Navy ships. The old Navy ships were infested all over with asbestos. I have sent letters to the Navy and VA to see if a register , such as the one for agent orange, could be started for asbestos exposure. The reply that I received from them was that asbestos exposure did not qualify for a register. When I asked if there was a program to notify veterans of possible asbestos exposure I was told that it would cost too much money. Plus I was told that if I had an asbestos related illness that I should file a VA claim. The issue was to create an asbestos register or notify veterans about asbestos exposure and both the VA and Navy ignored what I had initially asked about. There have been decisions made for asbestos exposure denying the veterans' claim because the veteran did not complain about an illness during their enlistment or immediately after enlistment. Asbestos exposure related illnesses sometimes take years and in some cases decades before they show up. The veterans' lawsuit that was filed this week is a good thing, but there are so many other veterans who could benefit from a lawsuit such as that one. What is happening to current veterans is only the tip of the iceberg. The neglect and disrespect shown to veterans has been going on for too many years. 68mustang

Stretch, Thank you for your input. I notice that you were in Vieques and Virgin Islands in 1969. I was there probably at around the same time. I was on board the USS Keppler DD765. At Vieques if I remember correctly we test fired our 5 inch guns. Then we had liberty in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. I noticed that you are a Shad veteran when were you exposed to tests that were done? As far as I can determine my ship was not used in those test. But in Great Lakes boot camp (Aug 1967- Nov 1967)I was administered a test vaccine that I supposedly volunteered for. I was never asked to volunteer and did not find out about the vaccine until I receive my medical records for my VA claim. 68mustang

Carlie, Sorry. I should have explained that it went all the way to the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals.Thanks. 68mustang

Vike17, Thanks for the response. The audiologist that did my recent test stated that more likely than not my tinnitus was caused while in the military. The VA claim paperwork has been sent and it is a matter of waiting for the VA to respond. 68mustang

I filed a VA claim for hearing loss around 1989. The claim was denied all the way to the top. The reason for denial was the lack of proof in my medical files. I had a an audiometric hearing exam at my enlistment, but only had a whisper test at my end of enlistment exam. I was in the Navy from 1967-1971 and worked as boilerman and engineman. Both jobs subjected me to loud noise more so in the boilerman job. There was no hearing conservation program plus there were no hearing protection items to be used. In my VA claim I brought out the fact that my lack of evidence was not through my fault. I stated that the Navy did not provide proper hearing protection or audiometric testing during my service time or at the end of my enlistment. Like I said my claim was denied. I have now filed another VA claim for tinnitus, which I should have done in 1989. I have had ringing in my ears since the 1980's. My audiologist stated that the tinnitus came from the noise that I endured in my Navy jobs. My job history since I got out of the Navy have been office type jobs, which did not have loud noise. I am afraid that the new VA claim will again be denied due to the lack of evidence from when I was in the Navy. Anyone have any ideas how I can state that the whisper test is not reliable and considering the type of noise I was subjected to, that an audiometeric should have been used? I know that it will be an uphill battle, but any help anyone could provide would be welomed. Thanks.