georgiapapa

Congratulations and good luck.

Congratulations and good luck in your efforts toward the permanent rating.

Congratulations and good luck.

I was discharged from the USMC in 1970. During my discharge exam in 1970 I was given the "whisper test" and the exam results in my military medical records indicated my hearing was within normal limits. Although I knew I had some hearing loss and tinnitus at the time of my discharge I did not want to initiate any claims because I was afraid a claim might jeopardize future civilian job opportunities for me. In 2010, after I had retired from my civilian occupation, I filed a successful claim for service connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Anticipating the VA would use the results of the 1970 "whisper test" to try to deny my claim and as part of my evidence, I submitted a copy of the cover page and page 12 of of "The Handbook of Standard Procedures and Best Practices for Audiology - Compensation and Pension Examinations" published by the Department of Veterans Affairs. I found the VA publication on the internet. On the previously referenced page 12, I highlighted a section which states the following: "Whispered voice tests are insensitive to high frequency hearing loss, the type of hearing loss most commonly caused by noise exposure, and are not reliable evidence of normal hearing or hearing impairment." I was rated 10% for my hearing loss and 10% for tinnitus.

broncovet Thanks for passing on this website info to the rest of us. Georgiapapa.

Congratulations to the Vet. I agree with Pete about the penalty. The VA should at least be required to pay interest on the retro. The government (IRS) doesn't hesitate to charge a penalty and interest to taxpayers who don't pay their financial obligations (taxes) by the required deadline. Georgiapapa...

Congratulations and good luck. Georgiapapa...

It just seems to me that many issues could be prevented and existing issues could be resolved in a timely manner if veterans were provided with the same level of service at the VAROs as is provided to claimants at the Social Security Administration. You can usually find a SSA office within a reasonable distance, talk to a SSA rep about your claim in person or on the phone and within a reasonable time period (almost immediately). You can usually get your questions answered by a rep at SSA who has immediate access to your files and actually tries to help you. JMHO. Georgiapapa

Yes. My wife received over a year of out of pocket expenses back to my effective date. Although she only had about $400.00 in retro out of pocket expenses she was glad to get it. Georgiapapa

Berta, I printed a copy of your response and I plan to meet with the family (wife and son) later this evening and give them the printed copy of your response. I will let you know when I hear something back from the family. Thanks again, Georgiapapa...

Berta, Thank you.

Situation: U.S. Army boots on the ground Vietnam veteran recently died from a sudden heart attack. At the time of his death, the veteran had several service connected disabilities with a total 100% P&T rating. However, his 100% rating had been in effect less than 10 years. The veteran had never filed a claim for IHD prior to his death. The veteran's wife went to the local county VSO and requested assistance in filing a claim for DIC. The VSO advised the wife that she was not eligible for DIC because her husband died from a non-service connected disease. The wife questioned the VSO as to why she would not be eligible since her husband died from a Agent Orange presumptive disease. The VSO stated she would not qualify unless her husband had filed a claim for IHD prior to his death. Question: Is the VSO correct? I may be wrong but I believe she would qualify for DIC. On the VA website regarding DIC, it appears she would qualify based on the following statement: "The veteran died from an injury or disease deemed to be related to military service." The VA has deemed that IHD is caused by Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. The veteran has proof in his VA claim file that he was a boots on the ground Vietnam veteran and the VA has acknowledged that all boots on the ground Vietnam veterans were exposed to Agent Orange herbicide during their service in Vietnam. The spouse of this veteran is a family acquaintance and her only income is her social security check. I hope she is entitled to DIC because it would make really help her at this time. Please give your thoughts as to whether or not you believe she is entitled to DIC. Thanks...Georgiapapa

Don't be surprised if you find the retro pay already direct deposited in your bank account before you receive the official notification in the mail. Congratulations and good luck. Georgiapapa

I listened to story on "The Five" at FOX news. There was total agreement by all of the commentators (Republicans and Democrat) that the situation at the Phoenix VAMC as well as other VAMCs is shameful, disgusting and disgraceful. I applaud all of the FOX news commentators for being on top of this story. It will be interesting to see how many other news outlets give this story the time it deserves. People should not only lose their jobs but should also be prosecuted. I know some of you may disagree but personally I wish all veterans could be placed under the CHAMPVA system. My wife and my mother are both under CHAMPVA and have never had any problems with CHAMPVA. Although a few healthcare providers are not familiar with CHAMPVA, my wife and mother have never had any problems getting a timely appointment with any private doctors or hospitals. IMHO, CHAMPVA is the best insurance you can have. No premiums and $50.00 annual deductible. My mother also uses the CHAMPVA "Meds by Mail" and gets her prescriptions filled free of charge. If the veterans in the Phoenix VAMC debacle had been given CHAMPVA they would have received quality medicare care in a timely manner and many would still be alive. Georgiapapa

John, Is there anything in the works to give this benefit to older veterans?

Also keep in mind any secondary conditions that are not on the presumptive lists but the secondary conditions are caused by the primary disease on the presumptive lists. If you can prove the secondary condition was caused by the primary disease, you have a legitimate claim for the primary disease and any secondary conditions. Good luck. Georgiapapa

When I received my notice this year I cancelled my annual physical at the VA OPC. About three weeks later I received a phone call from a VA employee in Cincinnati, Ohio advising I would be removed from the VA healthcare system unless I had my annual physical at the VA OPC. I live in Georgia. I explained to the VA rep that I turned 65 since my last VA annual physical and I now had medicare along with my BCBS federal health insurance and I planned to use private health care providers for all my healthcare since I had 100% coverage. I also told her that I just had a complete physical exam at my private pcp in March and it didn't make sense to under go another one a month later. She told me if I use the VA for eyeglasses, hearing aids, prescriptions or dental; I would not be eligible to receive these services unless I had my annual physical and remained in the VA healthcare system. I have used the VA for eyeglasses, hearing aids and prescriptions so I agreed for her to schedule me for my annual physical exam with the VA OPC which I will have this coming Thursday. She did tell me I could bring copies of the lab test results from my private pcp with me to the VA exam and I would not have to repeat these. Georgiapapa

If you are 65 or older you can still deduct the medical expenses you paid that exceeded 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. If you are less than 65 you can only deduct the expenses you paid that exceeded 10% of your adjusted gross income. Medical insurance premiums are considered a deductible medical expense in certain situations. Check online with the IRS to determine if your situation permits you to deduct the premiums. I am not sure if IMOs would be deductible or not since this is a report and not a hands on medical exam. I would think an IME would be deductible but you need to check with a tax professional to find out about the IMO and IME. Georgiapapa...

Champva is great insurance. There are no premiums. The insurance is free. Although a couple of my wife's providers were not familiar with Champva, she has not had any problems with providers not accepting it. If your wife does not have any other insurance with prescription coverage, she can get 90 day prescriptions free through the Champva Meds by Mail program. She can also get 30 day prescriptions at low costs through a Champva program called Catamaran (formerly SXC) which is accepted by most pharmacies. Sign her up ASAP. She can also get retroactive reimbursement for her out of pocket medical expenses back to the effective date of your 100% P&T award. Good luck, Georgiapapa

Also travel allowance to VA health care appointments.

Wolfhound, It appears to me that you filed an informal claim on 11/27/12 followed by a formal claim on 04/23/13. If you have proof of your formal claim on 04/23/13, I believe the effective date of your claim will be 11/27/12 since you filed your formal claim within 365 days of 11/27/12. Others on this web site who are more knowledgeable than me may have a different opinion. Good luck to you. Georgiapapa.

My hearing loss was bilateral sensorineural or high frequency hearing loss due to loud noise exposure. The tinnitus is the continuous ringing in my ears and my tinnitus is also bilateral. I believe 10% is the maximum you can receive for tinnitus whether it is in one ear or bilateral. I am not sure of the maximum rating for hearing loss but I was rated at 10% for my hearing loss and another 10% for tinnitus. If you were in artillery you probably have a good chance of receiving 10% for tinnitus due to your MOS. The hearing loss is more difficult as you will have to show a substantial loss in the high frequencies and some loss in speech discrimination tests. Good luck. Georgiapapa...

In my claim for service connected hearing loss and tinnitus, I submitted photos of myself in Vietnam firing artillery weapons (105 howitzers) without hearing protection. After my military service I served as a civilian law enforcement officer for over 25 years where I was also exposed to weapons firing but with hearing protection. Since it had been over 40 years after my discharge when I filed my claim, I anticipated the VA would attribute my hearing loss to my service as a civilian law enforcement officer. However, the VA awarded me 10% for hearing loss and 10% for tinnitus and I truly believe the photos played an important role in my claim being successful. Send in your photos. Georgiapapa...

Harley-1, Contact USAA insurance and see if they can help you. I had been with Georgia Farm Bureau for over twenty years and they increased my homeowner's insurance by 40% last year and I had never filed a claim with them. I switched my home and my vehicles to USAA and saved almost $1,000.00. USAA is veteran friendly and highly rated by consumer reports. Georgiapapa...

ktm rider, I was in law enforcement for almost thirty years (1975-2004) and in Marine Corps four years (1966-1970). During my discharge from the Marine Corps, the only hearing test I received was a "whisper test" and they concluded my hearing was ok. I knew I had hearing loss and tinnitus in both ears when discharged but I didn't ask for more extensive testing. Around 1975 I had an employment physical exam including an extensive audio exam in a sound proof booth. The audiologist performing the exam concluded I had noise induced high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus in both ears. Fast forward 35 years to 2010. My hearing loss was more severe so I started doing some research to determine if I could possibly have a claim with the VA for hearing loss and tinnitus. During my research of VA documents I discovered the VA concluded that "whisper tests" were not good indicators of noise induced hearing loss and should not be considered. I also discovered the hadit website which I believe is the most valuable resource available for veterans. I found a copy of my old audio exam from 1975 and also learned that the audiologist who performed the exam was still in practice and was now a doctor of audiology. I contacted the doctor's office and advised them that I needed their assistance in filing a hearing loss claim with the VA. A couple of weeks later, the doctor performed another audio exam on me and again concluded I had noise induced high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus. She compared the 2010 exam with the 1975 exam and stated my hearing loss was now more severe. When she questioned me about my exposure to loud noises, I advised her that I had been exposed to artillery gunfire and other weapons firing in the Marine Corps including daily exposure without hearing protection on a daily basis in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968. I also advised her of my exposure to weapons firing in civilian law enforcement which was not on a daily basis but usually during training sessions or qualifications twice a year. I provided the doctor with copies of my military records showing my MOS as artillery and service in Vietnam. She stated she had no problem advising the VA in writing that "it was as likely as not" that my hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by my exposure to weapons firing during military service. Following the format provided on hadit, I prepared a rough draft of an IMO letter for the doctor to use for my claim. She followed the format and provided me with the IMO letter for the VA. I submitted my claim along with the IMO and other evidence (military records, photos of me firing weapons without hearing protection, etc.) to the VA. In early 2011, the VA conducted a C & P audio exam and concluded I had noise induced high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus in both ears. The VA audiologist concluded that my tinnitus was service connected but any opinion of the etiology of my hearing loss would be speculative. Fortunately my private hearing doctor's IMO carried more weight with the VA rater and I was awarded 10% for hearing loss and 10% for tinnitus. NOTE: The results of my 2010 audio exam was almost identical to your results so I believe you could get 10% for hearing loss if VA agrees it is service connected. Georgiapapa...