Audiologist never conducted a word discrimination test

[All-American Airman]

Hello everyone, I was rated at 10% for tinnutis due to being an F-16 Aircraft mechanic and claimed hearing loss in my initial claim. I was given the exam by

an Audiologist, but it was only the test to determine the loss of hearing with the clicker and listening for the tone.

They were also very high and noticeable at the start of the tones threshold.

In other words, there were no tones that I could barely hear and then the gradual increase like in the occupational health hearing exams in the military. 

Can anyone else give some feedback or insight.

She also did not conduct a word discrimination test either. I remember reading the award letter and saying to my self she never did that. 

Does this make the exam null and void?

Thank you to all the contributors to this forum who are helping, teaching and empowering Veterans with this knowledge.

[MarkInTexas]

Ditto on the IME/IMO audio examination.  You can get those relatively cheap in some areas.  In my own little part of Texas, I found one that did the whole thing for $40.  It trumped the VA's "ain't gonna do it card" and pushed them into scheduling a C&P for tinnitus and hearing loss.  Came away with a 10% on the Tinnitus and 0% Hearing Loss, (but still service-connected) on the left ear.

Good luck!

Mark

 

Edited January 10, 2016 by MarkInTexas

[broncovet]

Mark in Texas

    I think your post is important and valuable to Veterans.  So important, you should start a new post and make it easily searchable.  There are millions of vets denied hearing loss (I was one of them) and they need to know this.  

[All-American Airman]

On 1/4/2016 at 8:55 AM, Buck52 said:

Can you post your decision and bases of there decision?

black out any your name and SS # any personal information that may identify you.

was this a C&P Exam for rating purposes?

 

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

Buck 52 here is the decision letter.

I was awarded 0% for left ear hearing loss.

Denied for right ear hearing loss. 

This was from a C&P exam for rating purposes.

On the NOD I have appealed on the evaluation of the disability and on the basis that no word discrimination test (Maryland) was conducted, and will start trying to find a local doc familiar with this test for IME evidence.

Thanks again to all for their posts and advice.

click for full view on each 

 

Edited March 19, 2016 by All-American Airman

[Gastone]

Did you obtain a copy of the DBQ completed at the time of your C & P? What do the Audiologist's clinician Notes from the C & P say?

I have to assume that you live near a Costco or Sam's Club, they offer free Hearing Tests, which include a modified "Word Recognition" non-recorded test.

As you know, the VA regs stipulate the Recorded Maryland Test. Can't say I Know any Vet that had a Hearing Loss C & P, that didn't get the Recording Test.

At a 06/14 DRO Hearing, the DRO advised me that the C & P Computer generated Audiological Report, makes or breaks the Rating. The C & P Clinician has no subjective input regarding your "Word Recognition" Score. How do you think the Rater arrived at the 96% Discrimination score?

I had a Hearing Increase C & P late 14, all computer generated Word Recognition/Guess results remained the same as my 03/09 C & P.

Posting the C & P DBQ and Clinician Notes, would be very informative.

Semper Fi

[Buck52]

There is good & Bad here

good you got 0% SC for left hearing loss

 10%tinnitus granted....that's a start

Bad is they never gave you any rating for the 0%hearing loss, most veterans get this rating the first time.  so don't feel bad

You should NOD the VA Decision (in my opinion)

VA usually always deny the first time, the bad is even when a veteran is hard of hearing  the VA Audiologist test are set very high, severe hearing loss would start at 50%disabling  and your almost deaf at that rating, so its very hard to get a high rating with hearing loss with VA, if we lived in a sound proof box all our life  hearing probably would not be a problem  so much or understanding of words  but we don't  and that's how a hearing test is conducted as we all know.

There's going to be a different set of numbers on each separate hearing test.

here is what I would suggest

Go to an private ENT Specialist and have them to do a hearing test following the VA guidelines found here on hadit and use the Maryland CNC word discrimination testing CD

Have the Dr to compare the VA test with his/hers and give you a impression of his/her finding.

Ask the Dr for his opinion if his test  would warrant a %rating  and if the numbers reflect a higher degree of hearing loss/than the VA test...then ask him to put that in his letter  or something close to this, the VA Raters will take a  state license specialist opine over a regular VA audiologist.

you could even get two private separate hearing test if both show you have a severe hearing problem  they will trump the VA doc's (Make sure you use a state certified licenses audiologist) 

also you can get Notarized statements (6) from family & friends/ co workers to give a testament about your hearing problem the people that have been around you and knows how your bad hearing effects your life and others around you.

YOU can also write a statment detailing how your hearing loss effects your life.

Usually if you show a severe hearing loss from a specialist Hearing Dr and he/she states in his/her professional opinion  your hearing loss is of bilateral  Noise Induced hearing loss''likely as not'' caused by his military service, veteran states he does not hunt or fish or been around loud noise sense his military days....you will be okay.

You just need to call around and find a Dr that will help you,  there are a lot of Hearing Dr's out there that will help veterans just be open and honest with them and let them know your trying to get a rating from the VA.  The Hearing Dr's that are veteran friendly will understand and be glad to help.

just keep on fighting them until your satisfied never give up   eventually you will win.

I wish you the best with this.

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

 

 

[All-American Airman]

On 3/19/2016 at 6:06 AM, Gastone said:

Did you obtain a copy of the DBQ completed at the time of your C & P? What do the Audiologist's clinician Notes from the C & P say?

I have to assume that you live near a Costco or Sam's Club, they offer free Hearing Tests, which include a modified "Word Recognition" non-recorded test.

As you know, the VA regs stipulate the Recorded Maryland Test. Can't say I Know any Vet that had a Hearing Loss C & P, that didn't get the Recording Test.

At a 06/14 DRO Hearing, the DRO advised me that the C & P Computer generated Audiological Report, makes or breaks the Rating. The C & P Clinician has no subjective input regarding your "Word Recognition" Score. How do you think the Rater arrived at the 96% Discrimination score?

I had a Hearing Increase C & P late 14, all computer generated Word Recognition/Guess results remained the same as my 03/09 C & P.

Posting the C & P DBQ and Clinician Notes, would be very informative.

Semper Fi

 I did not obtain copies of any documentation at the time of my C&P or any notes from the Audologist. I was pretty naive about the whole process. I will look into costco for their HL test, though.

I consider it strange that the audiologist didnt do a word recogniton test on me or how the score was calculated.

I'm glad that my left ear was at least SC for 0%. But the issue I have if my hearing is so good then how come I have so much trouble understanding people. I hear what they are saying but alot of the time I am not clear on whats being said...so I say alot of huh?, what?, and people get frustrated with me and I have to let hem know that I'm sorry but I dont' understand you from my days of working on the flightline. lol 

I'm sorry but I did not ask for any C&P DBQ's or notes.  Are we really able to get a hold of those records? I wish I had known that. During another exam I sat through waiting patiently not knowing what to ask from the doc. I sat quietly watching him work on that DBQ on the computer. He would turn around and occasionally ask a question or two but was standoffish like he was just there to get it over with. I wish he had gotten me off the table and filled me in exactly what the heck he was doing...at times I would peek over his shoulder,lol. But I am thankful for this forum and everyone on here who contributes.