Tinnitus & Hearing Loss C&P Exam

[63Charlie]

Yesterday I reported to the Orlando VA Medical Center for the above-styled exam

As he escorted me into the exam room, he asked me a question in a low voice.

I couldn't understand what he said.

I replied, "What did you say?"

Then he spoke clearly and loud enough for me to understand him.

So I replied to his question.

The initial part of the exam involved inserting some kind of medical device in each ear canal, one side at a time, and I felt pressure and it made beeping noises.

Then came the tone response test where you tell them when you can hear the tone.

Finally, sentences were said where you have to identify a particular word and repeat that word.

After it was over, the examiner led me out of the exam room and walked about ten steps ahead of me.

I have spine problems and use a cane so I'm slow anyway.

I see the examiner standing in the corridor and he asked me another question in a low voice that I could not understand.

I asked him to repeat what he said, and he asked me in a louder voice, so I could understand him, "Do you have any more exams today?"

Which I replied, "No."

While in the exam room he asked me how the tinnitus affects me.

I told him that the constant ringing in my ears annoys the crap out of me.

I told him that I turn on a fan next to my bed each night when I go to bed, to help drown out the noise from the ringing in my ears.

He asked," Have I had my hearing checked lately?"

I told him , no.

He said, "What makes you think that you have hearing loss?"

I said, "My wife gets aggravated because I have to turn up the volume of the TV to be able to hear it."

I said, "I've had to stop watching TV in the room with her because it always starts an argument."

He also asked what my civilian job occupation is/was.

I told him I've been a HVAC technician since the early nineties.

He said so you were exposed to noise made by air conditioning compressors.

He asked me what my military occupation was and I told him I worked as a diesel repair mechanic as my MOS.

I told him I was also exposed during training to noise from firing .50 caliber machine guns, .30 caliber machine guns,M16 Rifles, live grenades, and artillery simulators.

He asked if I used hearing protection, and I told him not when repairing the diesel engines, and I don't remember if we did when firing our weapons during training.

I had nothing to hide but honestly this guy left me with a bad vibe and an unpleasant experience.

The last thing I noticed was, Holy mackerel did this guy have some large feet! 

His shoes might have been a size 18.

 

Edited April 24, 2016 by 63Charlie

[Gastone]

Within 3-5 days, your MHV account should have a copy of your C & P DBQ as well as Hearing Clinician's notes posted.

I think the Service Branches mandated Hearing Protection for all Live Fire range purposes about 1975 or 6. Quite often, OSHA requirements are mirrored by US Military, non combat MOS requirements. I've been in the Trucking business since 78 and can't recall any Diesel shop where Hearing & Eye Protection policies weren't enforced. that's not to say, everyone complied, all the time.

As to your Hearing Test, the only thing that matters to the VA Rating Dept is the results of your computer generated test results, Frequency Loss and Recorded Word Recognition score. Both of these, will be reported on your DBQ.

The Hearing Clinician will opine as to the possible nexus of your claimed Tinnitus, based on your MOS and combat exposure.There is no objective test for Tinnitus. If the Clinician believes there is a SC Nexus, you should be good to go, 10% (1) or both ears. Even if the actual Hearing loss is SC'd, a 0% is not unusual. The Word Recognition score above 90% causes a real problem, rating wise.

Semper Fi

[waccamawwild]

Your MOS is possibly on a list that they have of mos' with extreme noise exposure. I was on the list and I got service connection for tinnitus. There really is not a adequate test for tinnitus. It is subjective to the audiologist and the veteran's testimony but it is probably the easiest service connection to get. You could pay to have to have an Independent medical opinion from a civilian audiologist to strengthen your claim. The VA would be required to consider this evidence. Good luck.

[Buck52]

 63 charlie,

Gastone and waccamawild are right on. good advise

Heres my 2 cents about it.

Any loud Nosie you were around that you report while in the military  and used no ear protection...then if your hearing loss is bad to a certain degree on the VA table scale  then you qualify for Noise Induced Hearing Loss. bilaterally .

if you show a hearing loss it will probably be rated 0%S.C. if you show a PROFOUND SERVER HEARING loss then it will be rated According to what the numbers reflect. 50%usually. but they could rate you higher.

you will need to be practically deaf in both ears & a bad word discrimination test score to get a high rating of  50% or more.

 your hearing loss will need to be in the class of profound hearing loss for higher ratings.

but if you get your hearing SC AT 0%  That's a good start  you can always ask for increase in your hearing loss as you get older.

  Hearing loss never gets better only worse  once you start losing your hearing   .&   VA don't use old age to rate your hearing loss  for rating purposes..

I would recommend you go to a private ENT Specialist and get them to give you a hearing test and use the Maryland CNC word discrimination test using VA Criteria and guidelines  found here on hadit.

just be honest with them and tell them what you need   ask or call around or look up on internet...if they say they do Veterans  then call them.

Just mention to the private Dr what you did in the military  the loud noise you were around and take a few of your SMR's with you and tell them to look at it  so they can say they they have read some of your smr military records and ask him/she to write his.her impression as to your hearing loss.

This will be his impression as to your  bad Hearing difficulty's and how it disrupts/effects your life at home/work and the people around you, you can also get Notarized statements from family and friends -co workers ect,,,ect,, detailing about how they see your bad hearing causes you and others around you many many problems.

also state that you never been around loud noise since serving in the military ,  as this veteran states that he does not hunt or fish or used any firearms since his military time. and he can put that in his/her impression letter, and it is his/her professional  opinion that this veterans hearing loss is 50% or greater and is likey as not the cause of his time spent in the military  around loud nosie.

Noise Induced Profound Hearing loss

 a good Private  hearing test & well written impression letter from a specialist  will trump the VA Audiologist.

you could even mention to the private Dr  What the VA Audiologist said in their report if they say your hearing is not bad or show no hearing loss.

Hearing loss claims are one of the hardest to get approved for by the VA...LIKE I MENTION UNLESS YOUR DANG NEAR DEAF.

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

Edited April 25, 2016 by Buck52

[63Charlie]

Does anyone know what the first test was for when they insert something into the ear canal and you feel pressure, and hear  different beeping tones?

Reminded me of an eye glaucoma test in a way.

I wish I had thought to tell him something about when he said I've been exposed to a/c compressor noise.

Compressors come with sound blankets and other noise dampening devices.

 He asked if I hunted, and I told him I deer hunted years ago. But most of that was done prior to my military service in my teens with my dad.Haven't fired a gun since 1986..

I 'm telling you i think this examiner was out to give me a bad exam from the get-go.

I'm anticipating having to fight a bad decision.

My nerves are shot guys, i'm serious.

Bad news on my spine, and the constant pain, is stressing me out to my limit so i went to see a psych.

Waiting on his evaluation.

 

Edited April 25, 2016 by 63Charlie

[Buck52]

I'm not sure what that would be they stick inside your ear?

Headphones is what they used on me and the behind the ear air induction test.  with 5 different tones at different levels.

They may try to say that your hearing loss was before you entered the military .

because Noise Induced Hearing loss is caused from  close loud noise...this can be a problem for you to get your loss of hearing Service Connected

...from what you mention about the examiner  I think he is up to no good and try to get you denied all together  they still could service connect the tinnitus  but deny the Hearing loss  even if you show on the test your hearing is bad.

once they find out you were exposed to loud noise before military  they will use that against you.

but they can't say one way or the other what caused your hearing loss  from before military or after   especially if your hearing was ok when you got out of the military

..its going to be harder for you to prove it was from your military service...you need a good veteran friendly License Audiologist to give you a good Noise induced Hearing loss rational from your military service.

 

jmo

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

[63Charlie]

I filed a VA form to give the VARO something to consider.

I mentioned that I haven't fired a gun in 30 years and that my hunting was mainly done with my dad when I was a teen before entering the Army.

As for the examiner using compressor noise, I told the VARO in this statement that compressors use noise dampening devices.

Variable speed, variable volume,high efficiency rotary compressors are so quiet(ductless mini-split systems like Mitsubishi) you can't even tell if the compressor is running when standing beside the unit.

This examiner WAS trying to burn me.

My gut feelings are usually right.

Don't know if it was good or bad to send that form/letter in but I'm hoping that it will be considered favorable before the RO decides my case.