Another....what Does This Mean?

[tagumTANK]

Newbie here...I submitted a fully developed claim through eBenefits for hearing loss and tinnitus. I included all necessary documentation they could possibly need. I probably went overboard with the amount of documentation I sent in which included hearing exams prior to boot camp showing perfect hearing, followed by hearing exams after deployments clearly showing sensioneural hearing loss from acoustic trauma. I included service records, award citations and military medical records to evidence the claims are in-fact service connected disabilities. I even wear (employer provided) hearing aids so I was expecting this claim to speed its way through the system.

A month after submission, I was finally presented with an update!! However, nothing needed of me, it was an update under the "Needed from Others" tab with the following details:

Needed from Others

Request 1

Due Date: "6/12/15"

Status: "Needed"

From: "Not Available"

(Comments Area): "OTC"

Has anyone seen this before? Its confusing to see that something (not sure what) is needed (not sure from who) when I feel pretty confident that I've submitted all necessary documentation in this fully developed claim. Its also confusing to see "QTC" in the comments field.

Anyone know what the above means?

[saints13]

Somewhere on this website is the "Noise Exposure list". It contains all the different branches with the MOS of each. It says weather it is low, moderate, high probability of hearing loss. Bring that to the exam because if you upload it, it might make your FDC claim turn into a regular claim.

QTC I believe is the c&p exam but outsourced to a private company. They will ask you a bunch of questions, then do a hearing test.

Bring your Noise Exposure list and all paperwork you do have to the exam. The evaluator may not have all of it, or just certain parts of it, or nothing at all. I brought mine and it helped in the c&p exam (QTC).

If I'm wrong then the more knowledgeable people on here will correct me and give you better advice. I'm just giving you advise on my personal experience.

[Gastone]

As long as your MR shows combat exposure and your lay testimony covers the constant buzz or whatever it sounds like to you that you still have on the day of your exam, Tinnitus at 10% will be awarded. Straight 10%, 1 or both ears, doesn't matter. The Hearing impairment is a very tough % getter. Your word recognition has to be below 90% or so to even get 10%. The C&P Clinician, will usually be the actual VA Hospital Hearing tester, not an outside Clinician. Your eventual hearing loss SC rating will be based strictly on the Test administered at your C&P.

Back in the mid 60's the Corps didn't offer any type of hearing protection, my understanding is that changed around mid 70's. As long as you haven't been exposed to loud music or a work environment that subjected you to repetitive loud noise sans the benefit of hearing protection, you should be good to go for the SC DX.

My SC Tinnitus started out as a faint hum back in 70's and progressively got louder, especially irritating when I'm alone and in a quiet room.

Semper Fi

Gastone

[kate7772]

Go to the health section of ebenefits and click the blue link in the top left area that says "exams requested".

You will likely see that a C&P has been ordered.

Kate

[Buck52]

This may help!

source : " CFR's''

§4.85 Evaluation of hearing impairment.

(a) An examination for hearing impairment for VA purposes must be conducted by a state-licensed audiologist and must include a controlled speech discrimination test (Maryland CNC) and a puretone audiometry test. Examinations will be conducted without the use of hearing aids.

(b) Table VI, “Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based on Puretone Threshold Average and Speech Discrimination,” is used to determine a Roman numeral designation (I through XI) for hearing impairment based on a combination of the percent of speech discrimination (horizontal rows) and the puretone threshold average (vertical columns). The Roman numeral designation is located at the point where the percentage of speech discrimination and puretone threshold average intersect.

© Table VIa, “Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based Only on Puretone Threshold Average,” is used to determine a Roman numeral designation (I through XI) for hearing impairment based only on the puretone threshold average. Table VIa will be used when the examiner certifies that use of the speech discrimination test is not appropriate because of language difficulties, inconsistent speech discrimination scores, etc., or when indicated under the provisions of §4.86.

(d) “Puretone threshold average,” as used in Tables VI and VIa, is the sum of the puretone thresholds at 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hertz, divided by four. This average is used in all cases (including those in §4.86) to determine the Roman numeral designation for hearing impairment from Table VI or VIa.

(e) Table VII, “Percentage Evaluations for Hearing Impairment,” is used to determine the percentage evaluation by combining the Roman numeral designations for hearing impairment of each ear. The horizontal rows represent the ear having the better hearing and the vertical columns the ear having the poorer hearing. The percentage evaluation is located at the point where the row and column intersect.

(f) If impaired hearing is service-connected in only one ear, in order to determine the percentage evaluation from Table VII, the non-service-connected ear will be assigned a Roman Numeral designation for hearing impairment of I, subject to the provisions of §3.383 of this chapter.

(g) When evaluating any claim for impaired hearing, refer to §3.350 of this chapter to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation due either to deafness, or to deafness in combination with other specified disabilities.

[Buck52]

§4.86 Exceptional patterns of hearing impairment.

(a) When the puretone threshold at each of the four specified frequencies (1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz) is 55 decibels or more, the rating specialist will determine the Roman numeral designation for hearing impairment from either Table VI or Table VIa, whichever results in the higher numeral. Each ear will be evaluated separately.

(b) When the puretone threshold is 30 decibels or less at 1000 Hertz, and 70 decibels or more at 2000 Hertz, the rating specialist will determine the Roman numeral designation for hearing impairment from either Table VI or Table VIa, whichever results in the higher numeral. That numeral will then be elevated to the next higher Roman numeral. Each ear will be evaluated separately.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1155)

[64 FR 25209, May 11, 1999]

Edited April 15, 2015 by Buck52

[broncovet]

Sometimes its simply best not to check ebenefits, at least, dont check it too often as it can drive you crazy(crazier). Yours is a good example.

If your claim is less than 1 year old, its likely best to simply wait. DO NOT buy into your VSO's promise of 120 days. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting your claim approved favorably in 120 days. I have been waiting 12 years, and I have a C and P exam. Reason:

they took so long with the last c and P exam they can no longer find it. Ask nod finally got his benefits he sought in 1994 last year (20 years). And, I have heard of longer.

I used to think 5 years was a crazy exaggeration by Vets, but that was about 10 years ago, and now I know it to be about average. You see, only about 15% of claims are approved first go around, and appeals take 4 or 5 years at BVA (this number is steadily increasing).

THEN, sometimes, you have to fight VA to get them to implement your BVA award, which is what Im doing now. A BVA award does not guarntee benefits, you still have to have your RO "interpret" the BVA award favorably. My RO does not like to do this.