tinnitus Iu Possible?

[Cavman]

The old fella I helped was granted 90% for hearing loss and 10% for tinnitus which equals 90% disability. He also filed for IU a couple months after filing the 2 claims just awarded. In the award it said the IU issue was deferred and he would hear from them later. If he has 90% hearing loss there is no way anyone will hire him. He has even been turned down by a new Walmart store for a job. Shouldn`t he be able to be awarded IU and is all he can do is wait?

Cavman

[Guest Dataman]

Do the Service Connected Disabilities keep him from working or Old Age? Is he drawing his SSA and already retired? I would think that is the big question. Since you don't give an age.

DM

[john999]

The VA is probably deferring the IU in hopes he will die first.

[Cavman]

You guys are probably right on with the hopes he will die soon. He will be 70 soon, but is still up at 5 working around the house. He is very active and even still climbs a tree in the fall to deer hunt. The problem is he can`t hear damn train coming. He has tried to get a part time job around town and everyone loves his work ethic, but he can`t hear.

He retired from GM after 30 years, but his retirement or age has absolutely nothing to do with being granted any award.

His wife has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is housebound from 2 strokes. I may help him send a note to the VA regarding this issue as a hardship and ask for a hurry up decision.

Has anyone had issues claims deferred after an award was made and how long before they were decided?

Cavman

[john999]

Cavman

Yes, I have had issues deferred and I NOD'ed it. I would not wait for the VA to act by themselves, especially if there is money involved. I have SMC involved and the VA deferred it. They just don't want to pay. If they defer IU, for instance, exactly when are they going to make a decision and start paying? Never is my expectation.

[theotherguy]

Cavman,

Was IU claimed or was it raised by the VA since they granted him 90 percent for hearing loss? My guess is that they are just following their procedures based on the recent grant of benefits and there is nothing more to it.

However, I will say that based on the history I have seen from the opinions I've seen from audiologists in my part of the country, it may be very difficult for him to be granted IU without going after some medical evidence on his own behalf. Does he have a private practicioner or audiologist he receives continuing treatment from? If so, I'd recommend trying to secure a statement from them to support his entitlement to IU. Another thing I'd recommend is for him to get continuing audio testing completed as regular as he can. He probably has a better chance of getting evaluated at 100 percent for hearing loss than he does for receiving IU, at least from what I have seen. And the positive to that is that he would also receive special monthly compensation for deafness. It isn't much, but it's more than he'd get for just IU.

If he gets the testing, post the results here in the forum to prevent from sending in information that may show his hearing does not warrant the current evaluation. Someone here can tell you whether or not his hearing meets the criteria for the 100 percent schedular evaluation and you could have him submit that audiogram alone.

[Guest jangrin]

You guys are probably right on with the hopes he will die soon. He will be 70 soon, but is still up at 5 working around the house. He is very active and even still climbs a tree in the fall to deer hunt. The problem is he can`t hear damn train coming. He has tried to get a part time job around town and everyone loves his work ethic, but he can`t hear.

He retired from GM after 30 years, but his retirement or age has absolutely nothing to do with being granted any award.

His wife has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is housebound from 2 strokes. I may help him send a note to the VA regarding this issue as a hardship and ask for a hurry up decision.

Has anyone had issues claims deferred after an award was made and how long before they were decided?

Cavman

Cavman,

I was reading something this morning on special compensation (SMC). I think your veteran may be eligible for A&A for his WIFE. It sounds like she is in need of special care and there may be a provision for him to receive increased compensation because of her need for in home care.

Also if he is the one providing for most of her care. He is also eligible to get monetary compensation from social security for "elder care sitting and caring". They pay family members for this as well as in home care givers. Might be additional financial help there too.

Jangrin

[Pete53]

I don't know if they still do it but you should ask to expedite the 70 year old Veteran's claim to the Tiger Team who for the most part speed up VA processing.

I do know that the VA Pension kicks in at age 65 with nor proof of disability so by that reasoning a Veteran age 65+ would be eligible for IU if not working.

Good Luck and thanks for helping a Vet.

Your Veteran is quite a guy in my book.

Pete

[cloudcroft]

Pete,

I don't believe he would qualify for IU at ANY age if he wasn't SCed for disabilities that prevent him from working.

He'd just get the pension, which I believe is just over a grand a month...IF, that is, his present monthly income doesn't exceed the limit allowed by the VA and any other income he has is deducted from the maximum monthly pension (1-grand or so as I said) so you have to figure that, too.

In short, on a pension the best he can do is about 1-grand a month: (1) VA pension plus other income or (2) VA pension alone. Don't know about SS he may be getting at retirement age...the VA may deduct that from what they'll pay, too, so in the end, the actual VA pension $$ wouldn't be anywhere near a grand, but his total monthly income would be even if from several sources.

If all that makes sense...

-- John D.

I don't know if they still do it but you should ask to expedite the 70 year old Veteran's claim to the Tiger Team who for the most part speed up VA processing.

I do know that the VA Pension kicks in at age 65 with nor proof of disability so by that reasoning a Veteran age 65+ would be eligible for IU if not working.

Good Luck and thanks for helping a Vet.

Your Veteran is quite a guy in my book.

Pete

Edited June 8, 2007 by cloudcroft (see edit history)

[MarineDog]

I am not an expert, but I think that if you can work, then you can work. If you are currently unemployed due to your service-connected conditions, even secondary to service-connected conditions, then it will be easier to be approved for IU. I got a letter from my last boss stating that they moved me from one job to another in order to help me with my disabilities. None of these worked and they had no option but to let me go.

I think what you are asking is if you able to work today, tomorrow you are awarded IU and you can’t work? You can either work or not. That doesn’t make since to me, but I said I am no expert.

[Alex]

To get IU, you need medica; evidence that you cannot get or hold a job due to your S/C disabilities. I don't know what kind of job you can hold with your hearing gone, but he audioogist should be able to make this statment with a little bit of explanation. He shold complete the form for IU and list where he has been turned down due to impaired hearing.

Alex

[MarineDog]

Your right Alex! I forgot he stated that he had been turned down before due to his hearing. Listing these with dates, etc. will be critical in the approval of his claim.

Caveman, FILE HIS IU FORM TODAY along with his evidence. The sooner you get the paperwork into them the more retro you will get.