georgiapapa

The attachment refers to 10-39 not 10-35 and doesn't appear to have anything to do with hearing loss and tinnitus. The link with the duty mos noise exposure listing also does not work. I have tried it several times. Do you have another way for me to get an actual copy of the VA duty mos noise exposure listing? Thanks...Georgiapapa

John, How do you respond when you receive the questionaires from BC/BS asking if you have other health insurance? Wouldn't you have to tell them anything about your VA health care? Believe me I really do not want to put off applying but at this time I do not think I would receive much of a rating for my disease because I am not to the point where I have a lot of disabling symptoms. I am retired but will not be eligible for Medicare for about 3 more years. I did contact Medicare and they sent me something in writing stating that once I was eligible for Medicare I could use both the VA system and private providers for SCN disease and Medicare would not have a problem with it. I also don't think I would qualify for SSD since I am not totally disabled according to their definitinon. I do appreciate your input but I am still going to try to get something in writing before I apply for the VA benefits at this time. Thanks again... Georgia Papa

I am a Vietnam vet (67-68) who served with USMC 1966-1970. I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (Smoldering) this year and am currently receiving care at the Myeloma Institute of Research & Therapy at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. I live in Geoergia and drive to Little Rock every 3 months for follow up tests and staging updates. My disease is Agent Orange presumptive disease and I know I am eligible for VA benefits for the disease. However, I can not apply for benefits until I know positively sure that upon receipt of VA benefits my current FEHB insurance will not stop providing me with benefits for my treatment in Little Rock. I know some folks wonder why I don't go ahead and apply for VA benefits and use the VA for treatment of my disease. Multiple Myeloma is a rare incurable cancer and very few cancer centers specialize in the treatment of this disease. The Myeloma Institute in Little Rock is reputed by some to be the best place in the world for treatment of my disease. Nothing personal against the VA doctors but I believe I would live longer if I continue to go to Little Rock. I already posted a message on this forum and other forums regarding my situation but I have received so many different opinions from so many different people that I do not know what to do. It is hard for me to believe this situation has not arisen before. I know there is someone out there who can help. Someone with reliable documentation to back up their opinion. I have communicted with OPM and was told this was between my FEHB plan and the VA. I communicated with my FEHB plan and my question was sent to their claims office which provided a response which did not address my question. I need input from veterans who currently have FEHB plan coverage and also have health care coverage through the VA due to their service connected disability and get their treatment for their service connected disability (disease or injury) at both their FEHB private providers and the VA. NOTE: I am not talking about receiving treatment at the VA for service connected problems and treatment at FEHB providers for non-service connected problems. I am also not talking about receiving treatment at the VA for non-service connected problems and billing your FEHB plans. I am talking about receiving treatment for service connected disabilities(disease or injury) at both VA and FEHB private providers where the FEHB has no problems with paying benefits for a service connected disability. Some folks on this forum have told me they received benefits from their FEHB plan for treatment of their service connected disabilities but it was not clear if there FEHB plan was aware they were receiving VA health care benefits for their SCN. I do not want to just take a chance and hope the FEHB doesn't find out about my VA benefits because it not only could cost me a great deal financially but it could jeopardize my longevity if my FEHB stops paying benefits for my Multiple Myeloma treatment in Little Rock. Is there a SCN veteran out there who has used both FEHB and VA benefits for treatment of their SCN at both the VA and FEHB private providers and whom has something in writing from their FEHB plan or the OPM stating the FEHB plan can pay benefits for a scn disability at a FEHB private provider? Also, if you have something in writing stating the FEHB plan will not pay the benefits, I also need to know. In this situation, my plan B would be to wait until I only have a few months left and then apply for VA benefits so my wife can receive DIC and CHAMPVA benefits after my death. I would have to carefully time this event. There should be a directive or something addressing this question. However, so far I have not found it. Even Google could not answer this question. Sorry for the length of this post and for being repetitive but I did not know how to make it any shorter without leaving something out and I wanted to be as clear as possible about what I am seeking. Thanks...Georgia Papa

Carlie, I just sent in my informal notice to the VA for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus from my exposure to artillery in Vietnam. I had previously been told by a friend that I could get hearing aids from the VA if I had a service connected disability (for any reason) rated 10% or higher. However, last year I went to my local VA outpatient center and asked about hearing aids and was told I could not get them unless my disability was for hearing loss. I am wondering if I was given bad info at the VA outpatient center. My current scn disability is for a shoulder injury I received in Vietnam in 1968. Would I be eligible for an audiological exam and hearing aids prior to my claim being rated for my hearing loss and tinnitus? Thanks...Georgia Papa

I just sent off a request yesterday to the National Personnel Records Center asking for copies of all of my service records including my medical records. Do I need to send another request somewhere else requesting my medical records? If so, please give me the info on how to request the medical records. Thanks for your input. Semper Fi.

Hi Navy Doc, Thanks for the input and thank you for your service. When I was discharged, the Marine Corps was discharging a large number of Vietnam veterans due to downsizing and our exit physical exams were short and quick. We were released a few months prior to our scheduled discharge date. In your reply you mentioned MEPS. What is MEPS? Thanks... Georgia Papa

Hi, I served with a U.S. Marine Corps artillery unit in Viet Nam in 1967 and 1968 and was exposed to the daily firing of 105 and 155 howitzers. We were not provided with hearing protection when firing the howitzers. I was also exposed to the noise of exploding mortars when we received incoming fire. During my stateside tour of duty with the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1970, I was exposed to all types of weapons firing as are most Marines. When I was discharged from the Marine Corps, I was not given a hearing test as part of my exit physical. I knew shortly after my discharge from the Marine Corps that I had tinnitus and a hearing loss but I did not file a claim with the VA at that time because I was trying to get a job in law enforcement and I was worried this could keep me from getting the job. I was employed with the U.S. Marshals Service from 1978 until my retirement in 2004. Fortunately when I was hired by the Marshals Service, I never received any type of stringent hearing tests. During my career with the U.S. Marshals, I never fired my weapon in the line of duty. However, we did qualify with our weapons once or twice a year. We always wore hearing protection during weapons qualifying. In June 1981 I went to a local hearing doctor and had my hearing tested because my hearing was getting worse and tinnitus was driving me crazy. The doctor tested my hearing which showed I had a bilateral high frequency hearing loss which he said was noise induced. In his report, he noted my exposure to artillery fire in the Marine Corps. He also diagnosed me with tinnitus. The doctor suggested I use a white noise device to mask the tinnitus noise when sleeping. I purchased the device and have been using it ever since. The doctor I went to in 1981 has since died but I have a copy of his report and the audiologist who performed the hearing test is now a doctor and has started her own practice. My hearing has gotten worse over the years so I plan to make an appointment with the same audiologist to get a current report of my hearing. Since she will be aware of my earlier hearing test, I am hoping she will give me an IMO report stating my hearing loss and tinnitus were more than likely caused by my exposure to artillery and mortar fire in Vietnam. Since so much time has passed and since I was employed with a law enforcement agency for a long period of time, I am concerned the VA will claim my hearing problems were caused by my age or my exposure to gun fire with the U.S. Marshals. I have a photo of me firing a 105 howitzer in Vietnam. In the photo I was not wearing hearing protection. I also have a receipt from 1983 showing the purchase of one of my white noise devices used for masking tinnitus. My DD-214 and my other military records show my service in Vietnam and my assignment to an artillery unit and my MOS as a Field Artillery Batteryman. I would like any input from other hadit members as to whether they think I would be successful in filing a claim for hearing loss and tinnitus at this late date and and with the knowledge I had worked for over 25 years in civilian law enforcement. I am currently receiving 10% VA disability for a shoulder injury I received in Vietnam in 1968 and I am in the process of filing a claim for Multiple Myeloma due to exposure to Agent Orange. Any input or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks...

John, Thanks for the info. Do you use your BC/BS for any of your SCN problems or do you use the VA for all of your SCN problems and your BC/BS for your non SCN problems? When I eventually go to the VA for my initial exam, I am sure they will probably run some of the same diagnostic tests as my private doctors. Do you think I might encounter any problems with BC/BS paying my private doctors stating I am receiving duplicate tests from the VA? I am 62 years old so I am not eligible for Medicare yet. I will get Medicare when I turn 65. Again, thank you for your advice. Georgia Papa

Hello, I am a retired CSRS employee and have the same health insurance as active federal employees. I also served in the USMC from 1966 to 1970 including 1967 and 1968 on the ground in Vietnam. I have recently been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (Smoldering). Multiple Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer. I now go to my local oncologist for monthly blood tests and I also go for extensive diagnostic tests at the Myeloma Institute for Research & Therapy in Little Rock, Arkansas every three months. After seeking advice from others, including some in these forums, I was preparing to file a claim with the VA for my Multiple Myeloma since this is one of the diseases presumed to have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange herbicide. After talking with different people at the Myeloma Institute, I am reluctant to file for VA benefits at this time. Some told me my federal health insurance will not pay any benefits for injuries or illnesses sustained during active military duty. I know this is usually true of private insurance plans but I am not sure if this is true of federal health insurance. Others told me if I was approved for VA benefits, I would have the option of using either the VA system or my private health care providers without incurring any problems with my current federal health insurance. Some told me my federal health insurance may require me to file for VA benefits so they would not have to pay any benefits for medical services related to my Multiple Myeloma. I do not know what to believe at this time. I do not want to contact my current health insurance company because they may decide to suspend any benefits for my Multiple Myeloma until they determine if they should pay for the benefits or the VA should pay. This could take months for them to make a decision. I know the VA has some great doctors and treatment facilities but if possible I would prefer to keep using my current doctors and myeloma treatment center with the option of using the VA for my medications. I am looking for responses from anyone who could address my concerns, especially civilian federal retirees or active federal employees who are in a similar situation or know of someone else who could answer my questions. I would like to apply for VA Disability Compensation to help pay for my out of pocket expenses (medical, medications, travel & hotel expenses to Arkansas), etc. I also feel I need to file a VA claim at some point in time so my wife will be able to file a claim for DIC & CHAMPVA benefits after my death. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Georgia Papa