Recap and thoughts from audiology C&P

[snow1wave]

So I just had my audiology appointment, it was interesting from the start. Right off the bat I got the sense that my doctor was uninterested, which didn't surprise me, it was defiantly one of those in and out appointments. The first thing she did was ask me questions, about if I heard ringing, I told her I did, only in a quiet room with me focusing on it, she moved on to the next topic of if we had hearing protection, I told her no. Then she stuck this thing in my ear that measured the pressure, it felt similar to the pressure on an airplane, with a few beeps. Then I went in the booth, I had to repeat words and such it was very hard to hear they were so soft and quiet, I missed a few of them, I had to press the headphones as hard as I could to hear, maybe that hurt me in the end, but I just coolant hear it. After that It went to boops and beeps, some were easy to hear, others were harder. After that was over she took me out of the booth and said she couldn't discuss anything with me (I didn't ask she just said it), and i'll get the decision in 2-3 months rushing me out of the room. I couldn't get the sense how it went, but I guess ill find out. 

[waccamawwild]

You might get service connection for tinnitus even if they don't service connect you for hearing loss. Wait a few days and then try to get release of information at VA hospital to give you a copy of C&P exam. Post results on this site and others will chime in about your chances. Just remember to cover up any personal info like name or service number. Good luck. I couldn't get hearing loss service connection but I did get it for tinnitus.

[snow1wave]

Im under a year out, my exit hearing exam was pretty bad. I had 3 hearing exams done by the military, meps (going in), exit exam (a week before I separated, it was so bad they kept be afterwards asking me if I worked around loud machines), and today. I never went to sick call about it, or was seen while in, but they thought it was bad enough to look at me after the exam. We'll see.. As far as the tinnitus, I doubt it because when I was asked about it I said no I didn't have ringing in my ears, at the time I thought it wasn't a big deal so I just told them no, until I read about it. 

Edited June 10, 2016 by snow1wave

[Buck52]

You should get a copy of your exit exam and  this last C&P you just had..it depends on your results of your hearing test   what the numbers reflect &if the audiologist that did the test wrote those numbers down correctly?

Noise induced hearing loss only gets worse over time so you should have shown a loss compared to your exit exam...and those Dr's ask you if you were around loud noise while in military..that alone should get you Service Connected...But it all boils down to what the numbers reflected /showed during your Hearing Test  and how bad your word discrimination test was  for Compensation purposes.

its hard to tell what the C&P Examiners are thinking?  some just don't know how to communicate very well and don't talk or visit with the veteran very much.

you can go to the VBA (Veterans benefits Administration) and ask for a copy of your  Last C&P Exam for your hearing loss...or get them from release of information desk as waccamawwild mention above.

Also from MyHealthVet  Notes.

If you got a bad exam ad it was not favorable for ya...&get denied You should go to a private ENT Specialist board certified and have them read your medical records about your hearing loss and have them to give you a hearing test  using the VA criteria for hearing loss and use the Maryland CNC Word test...

they can call the VA Audiology DEPT and request them send  the CD or maybe you could get the CD...As long as they follow the VA Criteria for Hearing test.

ask the Dr to write you an impression and opine and give his credentials.

you can use that to rebut the VA Doc.

....Buck

[snow1wave]

Ok buck thanks, Im going to get the C&Ps after my psych c&p next week, here's hoping she wrote some favorable stuff down. I would say my exit exam was similar to this exam score wise (in my head) I missed quite a few words, and beeps, but I got most right probably 90% so maybe thats good enough to not rate me. As long as I get 0% just incase it gets worse is fine with me. 

[snow1wave]

What about tinnitus, how does that work?  

[Slick]

I'm SC for hearing- high frequency loss, but without compensation.

was asked about ringing and said I have a "swishing."  Audiologist told me "ringing" was the basic terminology, but it manifests itself differently to different folks.

1) I don't believe there is a test to prove or disprove tinnitus. I think if you have test results that show a hearing loss, whether it's bad enough to result in compensation; is service connected and/or was in an MOS that is prone to hearing issues and complain of ringing/wooshing/or whatever you should get compensated for tinnitus.

as far as for the hearing test- word recognition and hearing the sounds are pretty straight forward.  Audiologist may have come across cold or negative, but test results should be pretty cut and dried.

as mentioned- discharge results or go to another audiologist for another test.

accept dealing with the VA is a challenge- they are not your friend, but good should triumph- keep the faith and don't get excited about the "wait"- we all go thru it