ptsd Hearing Aid Denied

[bojack]

The VA just denied me my hearing aid because they think my hearing is normal and its not the haring that is giving me a headache and making me hard to focus and study. The VA told me they think I need to go mental health route due to my mild cognitive impairment and PTSD (lack of sleep and stress). They told me my current condition is worse than me wearing hearing aid so they told me to go seek more mental health therapy.

Is this a good thing for my claim? I mean I am little sad that my injuries are giving me all these trouble, but I would like to get what I deserve so I can improve my life.

Thank you

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[TiredCoastie]

I had trouble getting hearing aids before I was initially rated at 60%. One VA audiologist told me that I clearly had hearing loss but it wasn't bad enough to issue hearing aids. Once I was rated, it was no problem after that. I also went in the second time, after being rated, with an outside doctor's opinion that I needed hearing aids, so maybe that helped. My hearing loss is not service connected at this point and never has been, so it seemed to have something to do with the overall rating at least in my case.

Can you post your hearing test results?

[Pete53]

You could always verify by going to someone who sells hearing aids they will give free tests. Use the results to determine if you should appeal the decision and yes you do have the right to appeal any no you get from VA.

Good Luck

[justrluk]

I now wear them even though the VA said my hearing wasn't bad enough to justify hearing aids. I have private insurance and they covered the full price of the entry-level devices. I'm rated for hearing at 0% and tinnitus at 10%. Do you have the option to get a private audiologist to test you and write a letter?

[Pete53]

You can appeal any VA decision. However you have to appeal an administrative decision within 30 days of your notice. If they say no again you have to appeal straight to the VA in DC.

[Chuck75]

The real problem is that the VA often tries to get out of doing things that are required by law.

The hearing/hearing aid issue is one area. Getting compensation and having the VA supply hearing aids

are two different things under current laws.

Once you can show an outside opinion that your hearing is impared, along with valid test results, the VA, in theory, would have to

"jump through hoops" to not provide hearing aids.

I got into it with the VA under a totally different situation. A well qualified board cert. specialist has recommended that I consider an implant.

The VA, on the other hand, wants me to go through all sorts of nonsense to obtain the device from them, including that the VA puts it in place.

The board certified specialist, on the other hand, practices in my local area, at the regional center for the specialty, and is one of the doctors

that "signs off" on re occur-rent training required by the state for doctors. Of course, the VA doesn't require that their doctors be licensed to practice

in this state, or, as I understand it, even have a current license to practice at all in any state, once they are on the VA's staff.

This sort of thing can get interesting, when you challenge the VA's decisions that are based upon a lesser qualified medical opinion.

[carlie]

Sorry your having this difficulty.

Personally, I just got 2 new hearing aids at my VAMC, private cost

would have been about 6 K, but I am SC'd for hearing loss, plus

my combined evaluation is SC'd at 100 %, so I was able to get them

with no problem.

I agree with the other reply that said go to a private company and see

what they have to say.

jmho