Jump to content

Ask Your VA   Claims Questions | Read Current Posts 
Read VA Disability Claims Articles
 Search | View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Rules 

Top 10 VA Disability Claims Articles

  • homepage-banner-2024.png

  • donate-be-a-hero.png

  • 0

The Infamous "whisper Test" On Separation From Active Duty.

Rate this question

tcannonsr

Asked by tcannonsr,

 Share

Question

tcannonsr Apprentice

tcannonsr

Posted
Posted

I got a full audiology hearing test during induction in 1969. Supposedly I received a "whisper test" to determine hearing loss at my 1970 discharge. I don't remember getting any "whisper test" at discharge. I think I would have remembered having a whisper test. I'm almost certain I didn't have a whisper test and this so called whisper test was the basis for denying my VA hearing loss disability claim in 1970. I think the "whisper test" wasn't performed on many veterans and the records were falsified to indicate a whisper test was administered....and it's a shame. Anyone got any information about challenging the exit whisper tests? :sad:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Answers 35
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters For This Question

Popular Days

Top Posters For This Question

Popular Days

Popular Posts

lotzaspotz
lotzaspotz

You may find this Court case interesting and relevant to your situation http://www.va.gov/vetapp13/Files1/1303087.txt

georgiapapa
georgiapapa

I was discharged from the USMC in 1970. During my discharge exam in 1970 I was given the "whisper test" and the exam results in my military medical records indicated my hearing was within normal limi

broncovet
broncovet

CUE is almost always a "last resort" to win an EED claim. The reason for this is that there are often better and easier ways to obtain an EED. Why do it the hardest way first, but instead choose the

35 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
stillhere Veteran

stillhere

Posted
Posted

After reading your plight I can relate.

I got out in 1971 Dec. 14 now that date is important because it is so near Christmas but a little more on that later.

There were a lot of us getting out that day with the Army draw down so we were thick as thieves in the hall way. I was given the whisper test and was told I would have to stay another 2 weeks so they could fully test my ears because of the back log! Now being like you 21 and wishing to be home for Christmas I opted to sign a waiver back to an exam I had 3 months prior to being stationed at my last post. I did not remember anything of that test but when I did get my C-file I found it had 15's all the way across on my test!! Not sure how that happened since at my induction audio test I had a 55 in my high frequency at 4000? I have been told there is no way that it could have improved like that!

Anyhow I was denied in 83 when I finally went and applied and got denied, now I appealed in 06 and got approved at a rate of 70%! I am now appealing to get my original date back to 83'.

I will keep up with your situation as it plays out and if I can help I will let you know! Stick to your guns and that C-file when you get it will make great reading!

Stillhere

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
  • Founder
Tbird Grand Master

Tbird

Posted
  • Founder
Posted

I was discharged from the USMC in 1970. During my discharge exam in 1970 I was given the "whisper test" and the exam results in my military medical records indicated my hearing was within normal limits. Although I knew I had some hearing loss and tinnitus at the time of my discharge I did not want to initiate any claims because I was afraid a claim might jeopardize future civilian job opportunities for me.

In 2010, after I had retired from my civilian occupation, I filed a successful claim for service connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Anticipating the VA would use the results of the 1970 "whisper test" to try to deny my claim and as part of my evidence, I submitted a copy of the cover page and page 12 of of "The Handbook of Standard Procedures and Best Practices for Audiology - Compensation and Pension Examinations" published by the Department of Veterans Affairs. I found the VA publication on the internet. On the previously referenced page 12, I highlighted a section which states the following:

"Whispered voice tests are insensitive to high frequency hearing loss, the type of hearing loss most commonly caused by noise exposure, and are not reliable evidence of normal hearing or hearing impairment."

I was rated 10% for my hearing loss and 10% for tinnitus.

Googled "Handbook of Standard Procedures and Best Practices for Audiology Compensation and Pension Examinations" site:va.gov and came up with the following cases mentioning the Handbook.

Tbird
 

Founder HadIt.com Veteran To Veteran LLC - Founded Jan 20, 1997

 

HadIt.com Veteran To Veteran | Community Forum | RallyPoint | FaceBook | LinkedIn | About Me

 

Time Dedicated to HadIt.com Veterans and my brothers and sisters: 65,700 - 109,500 Hours Over Thirty Years

 

diary-a-mad-sailor-signature-banner.png

I am writing my memoirs and would love it if you could help a shipmate out and look at it.

I've had a few challenges, perhaps the same as you. I relate them here to demonstrate that we can learn, overcome, and find purpose in life.

The stories can be harrowing to read; they were challenging to live. Remember that each story taught me something I would need once I found my purpose, and my purpose was and is HadIt.com Veterans.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
  • HadIt.com Elder
Buck52 Grand Master

Buck52

Posted
  • HadIt.com Elder
Posted (edited)

I had a VA Doc Delve back into my 1970 separation and he wrote in his 2002 report that I was giving a whisper test and my hearing was normal at separation.(I don't remember the test)

As time went on my hearing got worse, I file claim in 1998 and was S,C at 0% due to the fact I was exposed to loud noise while in Vietnam...bump to 2000 file increase had C&P and was S.C. at 50%

2002 was when I ask for increase &TDIU for my hearing because it prevented me from working and my word discrimination was around 75%bad ( 60% is VA to be qualified as severe hearing impairment) as it was already S.C.at 50% this is when the VA DOC OPINE MY HEARING WAS NORMAL AT SEPERATION I don't remember the test...but I don't denie my hearing loss was bad back then...I have noise induced hearing loss which occurs over time (here is what a 30 year experienced audoloigist mention to me and wrote his impression...

I just use a rough draft here I don't have his letter at hand but this is fairly close as to what he wrote as what I can best remember

''when the ears are badly damage with loud noise exposure it damages the inner ears (hair liners vibrate) that is used to conduct the hearing and over time the damage hairs keep falling out and your hearing gets worse (noise induced hearing loss) Which can result in severe hearing loss.''

(further research recommended)'' Noise induced hearing loss does not get better over time rather that it gets worse''.

I NOD the decision of the VA C&P Dr that opined my hearing was not as bad as I claimed (as I got proposal to reduce) I ask for DRO hearing in my NOD...I went and got a IMO from certified board ENT specialist and & other evidence to present at my hearing.

The DRO rebutted the VA Dr and said in his report its obvious this veteran loss of hearing is real with a DRO & rating speclist at his hearing & the veterans medical evidence from a board certified specialist ENT Dr & Audiologist & sworn notarized affidavits from family & friends as well as statement from his rehab counselor as to attest as being witness an increase is awarded rather than a decrease...ect,,,ect,, I was Awarded TDIU P&T as my disability is as of permanent nature and no future exam's scheduled.

sometimes we just have to fight all we can & when you get a bad non-friendly VA Dr....keep on fighting until you win.

jmo

..........................Buck

Edited by Buck52

I am not an Attorney or VSO, any advice I provide is not to be construed as legal advice, therefore not to be held out for liable BUCK!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
stillhere Veteran

stillhere

Posted
Posted

WOW! T-bird that is a great amount of info! Thank you so much!

I was doing research in the BVA decisions yesterday and came up with a few of those but these are great and I will jump on them right away!

I hope the OP and any one else with a hearing problem to the same!

My BVA hearing is coining up this June so I will try and glean as much out to help as I can.

Thanks Again,

Stillhere

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
tcannonsr Apprentice

tcannonsr

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks to stillhere, Tbird and Buck52. All of your recent contributions to this topic are SUCH good valuable info...for me...and other vets. I appreciate it. Thank you.

Update on my situation. I filed a NOD with the VA after I received my 2013 service connected 10% hearing loss and 10% tinnitus decision asking the effective date for both to be backdated to 1970 versus the 2013 effective date and then retained an attorney to represent me. It's been over a year and a half since I filed the NOD with the VA and, out of the 8 steps the VA takes to make a decision, the NOD is STILL on Step 1. No movement at all!! Incredible!!

My attorney says they don't find my NOD hanging for 1 1/2 years with not movement in the VA decision process unusual.

I am determined to win this fight no matter how long it takes. Whisper tests administered to vets, like me, when discharged from military active duty are an injustice. And, I believe, the purpose for giving whisper tests versus a full audiology hearing test like vets got, like me, before entering military service was...at the least....devious. The government was clearly doing everything they could to avoid paying hearing loss claims.

I believe it's time for the VA to own up to it's mistakes and I, for one, will do everything I can to make the VA do that.

Please keep the input coming. All of it helps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to question listing
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use

  I accept