mnjarhead44

Unless you use a seeing eye dog expect a rating of 0% For some reason they don't ever give a rating for hearing loss, maybe thats cause they will always give you hearing aids???

Just got rated at 40% and my rep applied me for voc rehap In reading the hand out they give I am wondering just what a "employment handicap means and also what kinds of problems I will face now going into trying to get this benefit Also I am most interested in self-employment, any insights as to what kinds of business concept they will support Thanks

Partly good news, rated 30% Also part of the claim was for the hearing loss that was denied previously It was denied because of slight hearing loss before service and in the rating the rater used levels from my exit physical as the level and stated it was due to natural progression My letter from the audiologist stating that he seen the error and that it should be looked at again was not new or raise issue to that effect, so the decision stands Maybe a hearing claim is the most hardest thing to claim even with a doctor statement and va records of statement that a hearing aid will not work Doctor tells me to file again and claim chochlear damage which would be more in line with the medical records Anyway I can save money and keep my cheap stereo system, as I never be able to hear in stereo!

I worked in the ROI department and can tell you that the records are put into the CPRS system that the VA uses almost right away Anyone with access can then view that report, and the next doctor would have that access!

It is always best to look at those records before they get to the VRO office- I walked into the ROI office and got a printout the next day and found c&p in my record!

Again, I am just wondering about that "least as likely as not aggravated by" part. In reading the posts here that is a statment that must be in c&p. So now is it the rater who makes the determination that its less than 50/50?

Thanks carlie, The opinion did have the "least as likely as not" part, but then it does go the other way, I just wonder why its taking them almost 2 months from the c&p to tell me that news!

Waiting since 8/30 for a answer to claim, if you have some insight on the following C&P examiners medical opinion: Is vet's depression due to or caused by his service-connected tinnitus? Depression was at least as lakely as not (50/50 probability) aggrivated by vet's service-connected for tinnitus. Rational for opionion given: Vet has a hx of inconsistencies in his self-report, as noted by several VA psychologists. The vet did comment to this examiner about how tinnitus has affected his concentration and ability to focus, as well as his mood (80%). This examiner has only the vet's self-report to make a determination of the degree to whigh his tinnitus affects his mood. Needles to say, it is a very subjective determination. Vet's primary issue appears to be that of his paranoid personality traits and delusional thought process. His deprssion, while not due to or caused by his service-connected tinnitus, may be aggravated perhaps by 10-15% (at most) by his tinnitus. As tinnitus is a chronic condition, the aggravation of depression would appear to be permanent. Again this is a very subjective opionion, based entirely on vet's self-report, and taking into consideration personality and cognitive issues which render the vet a less than reliable historian.