tinnitus Usaf Form 55 - Employee Safety And Health Record

[MarkInTexas]

Well, just when I thought I submitted EVERYTHING I possibly could submit to the VA to process my claim, in walks the USAF Form 55.

My wife had me clean out the attic this past weekend, and in the midst of going through old boxes of junk, I ran into a couple of boxes with my old AF gear from 20+ years ago. Also, I found even more of my old military documents from my personnel file (apparently these were ones that I had collected through the years while on active duty.)

What amazed me was that there were several copies of orders to TDY training, weapons qualifications, letters of appreciation, and memos from supervisors with duty rosters, etc.

One thing that struck me was this AF Form 55 Employee Safety And Health Record, which was completed by one of my old NCO supervisors. It was just a simple front and back form, but identified "hazards" of my daily duty day, including electrical, deploying in and out of vehicles, weapons and carrying heavy loads.

Now this was nowhere to be found in my other documents, nor was the weapons qualifications forms, but I have already prepped a package, and will mail it off Wednesday to the Houston VARO via certified mail, just to make sure that these items are put into my claim, especially considering some of my claims are hearing loss, tinnitus, and back and leg pain and injuries.

I also submitted the AF Form 55, via VONAPP this morning, but still don't trust it enough, and I want to make sure that the VA gets this form, along with those firearms, duty and training records.

I know it may slow me down a bit....once again, but I want to do this right the first time, at least as much as possible, in hopes of the VA rating me based upon ALL information possible. We'll see how that works out for me.

I was wondering if anybody else out there had ever run across an AF Form 55, and had success in using it as evidence of a cause or aggravating factor in a claimed condition. I am now kicking myself for not retrieving every copy of those from every duty station and job description.

Everybody have a very Merry Christmas, and a prosperous and healthy New Year.

Mark

Edited December 25, 2012 by MarkInTexas

[rdawg]

I'm not sure of the form number but there were similar entries in my c-file listing what6 decibles I was exposed to and also the solvents, carc paint, jp-4, pd-680,isocyanytes.

I think my NCO was a vietnam vet and he really took care of me and my fellow airmen by listing everything. He did this every year I was in so it appears multple time in my SMRs. Thanks Sgt Mason and Sgt Butler.