I Could Just Strangle Somebody

[stillhere]

I would appreciate someone with the ability to explain the results of my hearing test going into the service and coming out.

Pre induction test R 250 - 500=15, 1,000=15, 2,000=10, 3,000 -,4000=30

L 250- 500=10, 1,000=15, 2,000=15, 3,000- 4,000=10

separation test R 250- 500=15, 1,000=15,2,000=15, 3,000-, 4,000=15

L 250- 500=15, 1,000=15,2,000=15, 3,000-, 4,000=15

Do you see what I see?

[Teac]

DaNang

Yes, I agree those numbers are rather suspicious. However, it does not necessarily mean that you cannot be awarded SC for hearing loss. Like you, my hearing was rated "normal" upon separation, but I am now SC for hearing loss because my audiologist offered the opinion that my hearing loss was "most likely due to military service". Even more important than the degree of hearing loss to your rating is "speech differentiation".

Let me explain what "speech differentiation" means. The brain "converts", for example, the word "fork" into an image of a three pronged object for eating. If someone said "fork" to you in Chinese, you may hear what they said, but you probably would not understand (speech discriminate) they wanted you to pass them the fork..you just would not make that connection. In a similar way, people who are hard of hearing loose speech discrimination over time. The brain looses its ability to know what a "fork" is..almost like they heard the word, but it was spoken in Chinese. I have about 90% speech discrimination. That means 10% of what I hear falls into cyberspace, and I dont get it. The VA does understand this, in their ratings, and speech discrimination is more heavily weighted than actual hearing loss. The speech discrimination test is when the audiologist asks you to "say the word popcorn"..if you say popcorn, you got it. But if you say, "tin horn" you heard the word..but did not get it.

Of course, the VARO still tried, at least twice, to deny my benefits. However, by the time people reach the BVA, they require they know how to read and write! Regional Office employees do not have to know how to read and write, they put on the "Claim Denied" rubber stamp so they can tell which one to use.

Seriously, the regulations state, to the effect, that the rating specialist can not use his unsubstantiated opinion to "trump" a qualified Audiologist's opinion about your hearing loss. The only one qualified to oveturn the above opinion, is ANOTHER Audiologist. This is often why the VA calls for C&P exams. In a C&P exam, the VARO decides who the examiner is to be, not the Veteran, so they often hire and pick someone who will be on their side..not the Veterans side. This is just one way that some states pay Veterans less compensation than other states...they hire "consultant" physicians to do C&P exams. They then give that physician a rubber stamp that says either, "Veterans disability due to Veterans own misconduct" or, if the doc likes you, "Veterans disability not likely caused by military service". At the end of the year, "bonuses" are paid, not to how many Veterans are helped, or whether or not the claims backlog was reduced, but based on how brown your nose is.

I had to put a little humor in there to keep from going nuttier....

You were doing well....ok until you got the ponit that you accused the va of fraud. Hey I know the va makes mistakes, but did you know it is eaiser to get a claim approved than denied... that is because to deny it has to be justified in writing with reasons...VA employees do not care if a claim is approved or denied they stlll get paid regardless.... how silly you sound.

To say the va hires someone to test your hearing just to screw you out of compensation is just plain ignorant! I for one want to hear about the facts not some pipe dream you might have..... of course this is JMHO but I am sure it is shared by many

[broncovet]

TEAC

I really would like to believe what you say is true..that there is no fraud in the VA. However, "just in case", I did a google search on "Veterans Affairs Fraud" and came up with 276,000 hits. Of course, not every single instance of VA fraud is reported, and, there is always a possibility that when it has been reported, it "could" be "covered up".

It may even be possible that some Veterans dont even know how to report fraud..or report it to the wrong place and it falls through the cracks.

You say you need "proof" of this VA fraud? Rather than cite individual examples of VA employees convicted of fraud, go to the following link, and pick YOUR Favorite Example of VA Fraud, then post it on hadit!

http://www.va.gov/oig/publications/news-list.asp

Your statement about there being no fraud with the VA merely shows that the VA is doing a much better job at covering up their fraud, and keeping it from the media, than they are at eliminating fraud.

I am very pleased that the VA apparently has not defrauded you, however, the office of Attorney General says they have defrauded others.

Edited January 9, 2009 by broncovet

[stillhere]

TEAC

I really would like to believe what you say is true..that there is no fraud in the VA. However, "just in case", I did a google search on "Veterans Affairs Fraud" and came up with 276,000 hits. Of course, not every single instance of VA fraud is reported, and, there is always a possibility that when it has been reported, it "could" be "covered up".

It may even be possible that some Veterans dont even know how to report fraud..or report it to the wrong place and it falls through the cracks.

You say you need "proof" of this VA fraud? Rather than cite individual examples of VA employees convicted of fraud, go to the following link, and pick YOUR Favorite Example of VA Fraud, then post it on hadit!

http://www.va.gov/oig/publications/news-list.asp

Your statement about there being no fraud with the VA merely shows that the VA is doing a much better job at covering up their fraud, and keeping it from the media, than they are at eliminating fraud.

I am very pleased that the VA apparently has not defrauded you, however, the office of Attorney General says they have defrauded others.

I guess teac has not been going to the VA for very long and is very pleased with their work and the service. I have had good times with the VAMC and I have had BAD times and sometimes it is hard to tell which is which.

Anyhow my test that was never done at separation was with the ARMY and not the VA. I filed my claim in 1984 and received a two line denial. At the time I just said the heck with it and went on my merry way and paid for all my hearing aids, and evrything up until 2005 when I became a VA SC vet at 30%

I never knew why I was denied and quite frankly still don't know other than this last time they said NO Evidence of hearing loss while in service. I was made aware of the irregularities in the separation test by my audiologist who just reviewed all my paper work in preparation for my appeal. Even though my audiologist had my entire record at the VAMC it was never pointed out to me or discussed as to how this could have occured. I am sure that pure logic will somehow prevail in this, as there is NO WAY my hearing got better while I was working in my MOS and in a war zone. Is does not take a rocket scientist to come to that conculsion.

I would just let this drop but I erred when I did that once before and I will not to it again. I may be in for a long haul but I plan to make everyone aware of the sitiuation. I think my VA audiologist would be very interested in this if they don't already know.

My hearing is VERY bad now at the age of 59 and I have had an hearing aid since 84 so I am well aware it will take some effort on my part but I have to try and do this before I loose all my hearing!

[Teac]

TEAC

I really would like to believe what you say is true..that there is no fraud in the VA. However, "just in case", I did a google search on "Veterans Affairs Fraud" and came up with 276,000 hits. Of course, not every single instance of VA fraud is reported, and, there is always a possibility that when it has been reported, it "could" be "covered up".

It may even be possible that some Veterans dont even know how to report fraud..or report it to the wrong place and it falls through the cracks.

You say you need "proof" of this VA fraud? Rather than cite individual examples of VA employees convicted of fraud, go to the following link, and pick YOUR Favorite Example of VA Fraud, then post it on hadit!

http://www.va.gov/oig/publications/news-list.asp

Your statement about there being no fraud with the VA merely shows that the VA is doing a much better job at covering up their fraud, and keeping it from the media, than they are at eliminating fraud.

I am very pleased that the VA apparently has not defrauded you, however, the office of Attorney General says they have defrauded others.

You need to show me where in my statement tha tI said the va does not commit fraud...

You have expanded on my statement and taken it from a specific point to a general statement....

I did not say that there is no fraud at the va, I said the va does not hire someone to do a hearing test just so that they can commit fraud...

Next time please read what I said without changing the meaning of my statement....

[Teac]

I guess teac has not been going to the VA for very long and is very pleased with their work and the service. I have had good times with the VAMC and I have had BAD times and sometimes it is hard to tell which is which.

You should not assume anything, I have been dealing with the va over 22 years. I presently have a tort claim in the system, I did not say the va is perfect. I said they do not hire examiners to do hearing test for the purposes of Fraud... and to think otherwise is just plain ignorant.

I never knew why I was denied and quite frankly still don't know other than this last time they said NO Evidence of hearing loss while in service.

You are not the first veteran that this has happened too. My case is simular, active duty records show HF hearing loss and the va in 1986 denied saying no evidence of hearing loss in service. After 18 years the va finally awarded 0% sc for hearing loss. If you can get anything over 0% for hearing loss you have a serious loss.

I wish you the best on.

[broncovet]

Stillhere:

Yes, I know what you mean. I am in my late 50's..and my hearing deteriorates by about 3-5% per year also..so I am going deaf, too. Like you, I want to get my VA claim settled before I go deaf.

So far I have worked on it since 2002..seven years.

I have worn hearing aids since about 1995, but, according to a course I took (callled "Living with hearing loss"), the average Hard of hearing (HOH) person struggles with hearing loss for 10 years before getting hearing aids. So, my guess is that you had symptoms of hearing loss about 10 years before 1984...or about 1974.

Even though I have only been 40% successful (I am rated 0% for hearing loss, 30% for depression, and 10% for tinnitus), I will still offer this advice for you that I have learned over the past 7 years of dealing with the VA:

1. ASK your audiologist to write in your report these words: "Veterans hearing loss most likely due to noise exposure during military service"...if you indeed feel that is the case.

2. DO NOT lie, ever, and dont even try to "fake" that your hearing loss is worse than it is. At least part of the reason I was awarded benefits by the BVA is that they stated to the effect that the Veterans statements were fully consistent with the evidence of record. That is, the BVA was not with me in Boot camp. they did not hear the jet engine noise, etc..etc, but I printed a googlemap of my barracks, showing its close proximity to the San Diego airport and highlighted it in yellow. I also pointed out my audiologists opinion, "most likely due to military service".

3. However, DO tell the truths that are "favorable to the Veteran". Look up regulations. Browse Hadit. Read all you can. In about 2002, the VA published a manual on hearing loss which relates

hearing loss, depression, and unemployability. I am having a little trouble finding this report, the VA may well have removed it, since it works well with Veterans claims.

4. The 7p's beat the 3 D's from the VA. "Delay, Deny, and Discredit the Veteran," are the VA's motto, but ours needs to be: "Proper Preperation Prevents Poor Performance, then Persist, and aPPEAL"

Thank you for serving our country and good luck to you.