ptsd Military Records Show Hearing Loss

[kkp]

I took my seperation physicl papers by the audiodolgy department at the va friday and showed it to the the Lady that tested My hearing for my last hearing aids. She and another person that worked there both agreed I had enough hear loss during my enlistment that I should file a claim. I also have suffered from severe vertigo since 1980, and tinnius. This is all well documented many times over.I also was dianosed with meneres diesease a few years ago at the va. , and see a specialist at the va for all of the above.

My question is should I file a claim now or wait. I have a n appeal for ptsd, presently 50%, an appeal on My rt. knee, and aclaim for IU, thats been filed for about 4 months now. The IU claim has the appeals held up until a decision is made it. Should I hold off on filing on my hearing,( i'm leaning in that direction) or go ahead and file. I need some of the excellant advice I know I can get here thanks a million.

kkp

[JohnM]

I took my seperation physicl papers by the audiodolgy department at the va friday and showed it to the the Lady that tested My hearing for my last hearing aids. She and another person that worked there both agreed I had enough hear loss during my enlistment that I should file a claim. I also have suffered from severe vertigo since 1980, and tinnius. This is all well documented many times over.I also was dianosed with meneres diesease a few years ago at the va. , and see a specialist at the va for all of the above.

My question is should I file a claim now or wait. I have a n appeal for ptsd, presently 50%, an appeal on My rt. knee, and aclaim for IU, thats been filed for about 4 months now. The IU claim has the appeals held up until a decision is made it. Should I hold off on filing on my hearing,( i'm leaning in that direction) or go ahead and file. I need some of the excellant advice I know I can get here thanks a million.

kkp

I am not an expert on this but I would say file now, the higher your rate the better for IU rating.

[Guest rickb54]

KKP,

Based on what you said, and if the va hearing specialist put a statement in writing that your hearing loss is connected to service then you have an excellent chance of wining a claim. My service medical records indicated I had a hearing loss in 1986, when I was first denied a rating. I reopened my claim in 1993 and still was denied. Finally when my hearing loss started to interfear with my interaction among my family members I got an appointmet with the va hearing speacialist, and took my active duty medical records with me. I got hearing aids, along with a statement that resulted in a rating for service connected hearing loss. I am now trying to get an eairler effective date on the award. My point don't try to open a claim with out a doctors statement, the va will just deny deny deny.

As to the question, when should you file? do you wait for other issues to be resolved before filing? .. \

As you know your rating if granted will be awarded back to the date you filed the claim ie; if you file your claim in Dec 06 and win your award date will be Jan 07 , if you file in Mar 07, your award date will be Apr 07. I think you should file a claim as soon as possible because the sooner you file the more compensation you will earn.

I do not think that a new claim will hold up your other claims, but I have heard others say it could. I have had numerious issues going on at one time, and it never seemed to cause any problems for me but that does not mean it could not hold up other claims.

hope this answers your question.

[DeltaGlenn]

Hearing loss even at 10% is very difficult to qualify for. Also filing a new claim will probably slow down your present claims as the file will have to be located and pulled for the additional information to be added. Will your file be put back in place or at the bottom of the pile ?

Glenn

D/2/501 101st Abn Inf

Walked the woods 67-68

0% SC Hearing

[Philip Rogers]

Hearing loss even at 10% is very difficult to qualify for. Also filing a new claim will probably slow down your present claims as the file will have to be located and pulled for the additional information to be added. Will your file be put back in place or at the bottom of the pile ?

Glenn

D/2/501 101st Abn Inf

Walked the woods 67-68

0% SC Hearing

There is no "bottom of the pile." Files not being worked on are stored in the file room. Claims and schedued work is tracked via computer. I personally doubt it'll slow it down. Current claims will be worked in the order received and when all evidence requested is present. jmo

pr

[dougbo1943]

The below is my hearing test. It does not rate even rate 10%. You have to be almost deaf to get any %.

That is why I hope to get tinnitus rating of 10%

Freq. 250 500 1000 1500 2000 3000 4000 6000 8000

R/H 15 10 10 25 25 55 75 85 85

L/H 15 10 10 35 35 75 75 90 90

Word Recognition

PBMAX LEVAL MASKING PI/PB

R/H 100% 70 50 -

L/H 100% 70 50 -

See CFR 38, 4.85 and 4.86 to plot this out, it will come to 0% for hearing lost

Word recognition is what kills your chance of 10%.

I agree with DeltaGlenn, You can get service connected for hearing loss but it is hard to get 10% rating.

Gunny

Edited December 18, 2006 by dougbo1943 (see edit history)

[Cavman]

Kkp:

I filed my appeal about the same time as you. I just got a letter stating my appeal will not be decided or reviewed until my new claims are decided. I filed new claims about 2 weeks after I sent in my NOD. If you want a decision sooner I would wait. One reason I didn`t wait is I too am only 50% and filed for 100% with my IU form and thought I needed a higher rating to be considered for IU. I was wrong in that thinking. If you have a good case I would wait if you are in a hurry as most of us are.

Cavman

[Cavman]

Kkp:

Have you ever heard anything regarding your appeal? What do they tell you when you call?

Cavman

[kkp]

Thanks for all your responces.

I didn't get a letter from the audioligist that did my test for hearng aids. I just droped in and showed them my hearing test on entry and discharge. There was a signifgant loss in the three years. I was a machine gunner. I will ask her if she would write me a letter, as she and another person there said I should file a claim. Here is Her last report I got from hosp records. It's French to me, but maybe someone else can tell me If I should file. All I know is, I can't hear worth a hoot.

Patien recieved full audiological evaluation. The case history review revealed a mild progressing to profound sensorineural hearing loss AS and normal hearing progression to a moderate severe sesorineural hearing loss AD. Speech reception thresholds were in agreement with pure tone findings. Speech discrimination scores were fair AS and good AD. MCL'S were 80dbhl AS and 60 dbhl AD. UCL'S were 100dbhl AS and 100+dbhl AD

Immitance testing revealed type A tympanograms AU. Ipsilateral acustics reflexes were elevated to no responce AU. Otoscopy revealed slight cerumen AU.

Impression: Bilateral amplification

I also have alot of documentation going back to 1980. for severe vertigo and tennitus.

any thoughts thanks kkp

[carlie]

"Otoscopy revealed slight cerumen AU"

This part simply means slight earwax found in both ears.

jmho,

carlie

[kkp]

Cavman I havn" talked to anyone abut My appeal on ptsd for a couple of weeks, but was told then it was on hold until a decision was made on My pending IU claim.

kkp

[Cavman]

Kkp:

I also filed for IU and I was under the impression the IU and asking for a higher rating for PTSD would be decided together. The damn waiting is really getting hard now. My wife works, but doesn`t make enough. Me dealing with this cancer and I filed bankruptcy after I got it, I was forced to. If I don`t get the IU its going to get bad. I`m hoping for 100% P & T so my daughter can get some college. Good luck to you...I`m thinking about ya.

Cavman

[Berta]

KKP- Bilateral amplification- means hearing aids-

It seems to me they agree that the hearing loss is profound enough for using hearing aides- but - did they do this when you had them on or off?

Did they do a complete audio test with the decibals etc ?

What did she say when you asked her to write a letter for your claim?

[kkp]

Berta they did the test without the hearing aids And I didn't ask if they would write me a letter

They did do a complete audio with decibals, How ever when I went to records I only recieved their report.

I called the adio department this morning, and was advised I need to request the actual grafts from records, so I will go back and get it this afternoon. I didn't asked them if they would write me a letter. I just took My final pysicial report from the military and showed them and ask if I should file a claim. Two of them confired and told me I should definatily file a claim due to the amount of hearing I lost while I was in the Army.

I have an appoinment with an audioligist, who Is a friend, and she used to do c&p exams for the va before they opened their own department at the VA. I have lots of records from through the years, She asked if I would bring everything I have tommorow, And She will give me an exam there and write me an IMO to send with My claim, I made copies of the forms, one on ear disease, the other on audio that, You had posted that explain what the va requires. I expect She already knows how, but I'll take them anyway.

Whats your thought on wether I should file now or wait for a decision on the IU. In short I have an appeal on ptsd and one on my rt knee on hold until a decision is made onthe IU. Would a knew claim clogged my case more or not.

Thanks as always kkp

[Berta]

This all sounds great KKP-

about the TDIU- I feel that any vet who believes that their SC causes them to be unemployable- and I assume you are completely unemployed -should file the TDIU form ASAP to preserve the earliest date of entitlement-sometimes evidence shows the EED should go back a bit prior to the filing date but it pays to send the form in ASAP-

Question- I have a friend who is dependent on hearing aides (not a vet) and she gets SSA because her hearing problems have impaired her communication abilities-to the point that she cannot work.

Did I pick up this in your post? has your hearing problem affected your speech?

This is something a good audiologist should take note of and I know SSA does.