Surgery time off for recovery question

[Riplip]

Hello all I am new here. Been lurking for a while though. I have SC hearing loss (20%), tinnitus(10%) and vestibular disorder(30%). I have been seen outside the VA because they do not have a specialist in NH for my vestibular loss. I go to Mass Eye and Ear. They want to give me a cochlear implant for my right ear because its virtually useless. I can hear noise like a locker door slamming and stuff like that but no word recognition going on. It took me years to even decide to try hearing aids and I still can't grasp having them at 40 years old now. Anyways if I decide to go through surgery that side will be deaf for at least a month while it heals before they can start up the processor. After that there will be many visits to try and dial it in over the next couple months and they say it takes a year or more to get used to. If i can't work for a month or more can i get help through that? Just wondering if anybody has taken this step and what to expect. Its been a real battle to keep my job with my hearing dropping so dramatically. Not sure how much longer my company will keep me in my position so that is a constant monkey on my back. Thanks for any responses 

[broncovet]

Well, yes.  You can get a temporary 100 percent rating, while you are recovering from surgury that is SC.   Its called a convalscent rating.   Apply for it.  

[Riplip]

Broncovet thank you for the response. I have a meeting with my rep later this month after my meeting with the specialist this week about surgery. I will be sure to ask him about that. I obviously need that setup before surgery. Thanks again

[Richard1954]

Yes  as stated above a 100% temporary rating is possible but it also depends on how long you are considered unable to work and even then the va has a cutoff. Also,   If you lose your job because of the medical issue, you may very well qualify for for unemployable which pays at the 100% rate 

[Riplip]

Richard 1954, thanks for the reply. I think i'll only be out of work for a month or maybe 5-6 weeks while the ear is healing before they turn on the processor. It'll be deaf while healing. Not sure if i can do a one ear work thing since my good ear is still pretty bad. I do not think i'll lose my job over this. If everything works hopefully i'll be better at work unlike the last few years where i've been at a stand still since i've had to stop training and pretty much everything that has to do with conversations. Tough when your a safety manager for a construction company. I used to train employees in a classroom environment and life was good then when the hearing got so bad i couldn't understand questions i had to scale back and pretty take less of a role and coast it out kind of. Thanks again