Hearing eval. question for increase

[Riplip]

Ok I know the hearing thing has been knocked around a bunch. I have read many posts and still can't figure out my next move. I just had a hearing test yesterday at Mass Eye and Ear (the top dogs around here). All my hearing appts are done down there at the request of the VA because i've been diagnosed with bilateral Menieres. I am SC 20% for bilateral hearing loss. My test shows a word recognition of 16% in my right ear and 54% in my left ear. I have severe hearing loss in my left ear and profound in my right ear. I am going for a Cochlear Implant eval as soon as they make my appointment and then i'll schedule surgery and figure out all those other issues with healing and relearning how to hear in that ear.  My question is should i file for an increase now or wait until after surgery? The chart they gave me i really don't know how to read to put in the hearing test calculator. Thanks for any thoughts. 

[Buck52]

Remember 

To be service connected  for hearing loss    you can use your MOS if you were around loud noise during your military days.

Hearing loss can occur years later after a veteran has been exposed to loud sudden noise    such as Artillery Gun fire from  incoming Rockets/Motars  IED's ect,,,ect,,and aircraft noise   this is call Noise Induced  Bilateral Hearing loss  and it's how a lot of veterans prove it was related to military service.

[Riplip]

Buck52 I am already SC for my hearing loss at 20% and tinnitus at 10%. I'm looking for an increase on the loss especially if I am going to need a CI which will render that ear deaf. I just didn't know if I should file now or wait until after surgery which hasn't been scheduled yet. With my current eval. last week it shows the loss should grant me more than 20% i believe but the hearing loss matrix is tough to decipher. Thanks

[Buck52]

Yes I understand.

unless your at a young age I am against the CI'S  that is a dangerous procedure. but that's totally your decision.

if your service connected for hearing loss and higher rating given and you elect to have the CI's that should not effect your rating  only make it more solid that you do have a hearing problem   even if the CI lets you hear better. actually that may be a 100% final rating   they are not suppose to use any surgical or hearing aids as reason for reduction.

as for as increase  I would go to a Private state license clinic that uses their own Audiologist and ask the ENT Dr to opine on  test findings..ask his/her to compare his test with yours and ask his opinion if your hearing is actually worse than what the VA says... they can use VA lingo such as  

It is within my medical opinion as a  (give credentials) that it is likely  this Veterans hearing from my examination is more profound  that that of his last test done at the VAMC ,And the Dr can write in his opinion, you also can submit about 6 individual  notarized letters from family and friends that have known you for years  that they notice you have a very hard time hearing and understanding what is said and they notice your frustration. ect,,ect,,, and of course a statment from you.

[Buck52]

Please Note:

Having CI's place as  in a surgical procedure there is no guarantees this procedure will work and it is quite intense surgery.

Again this is certainly your choice.

[Riplip]

I totally understand and appreciate the concern with CI's. I've been trying as much as possible to stay away from surgery. I am 40 years old with 2 young children and I just keep missing things and I don't want to lose anymore. The VA can not do anymore with a hearing aid on my right ear so they sent me to Mass Eye and Ear for the CI talk with a specialist. Of course he thinks i would benefit from one but just like you said there's no guarantee. With my so called good ear declining as well i need to have some type of hearing going on.  

[GBArmy]

Riplip:

What I meant about the CI for my friend is that his hearing improved after the operation, but his hearing was so far gone that he still misses most of anything said. Forget about going to a meeting or a gathering with a bunch of people talking. If you are not in an area that is relatively quite, he can't hear you even while looking face to face. I know it gets him down because he doesn't participate in things like he used to. Of course, all people are different and situations are different, but there is plenty of evidence that proves that hearing loss can also cause depression. If the veteran develops it because of s-c hearing disability, a good IMO can get it secondary.