VA Denied Hearing Loss Question

[bigbetty3id]

 I had a claim for hearing loss denied by the VA, but the VA conceded in Military noise exposure, what do I need to do.

[GBArmy]

Can  you  redact your name. ssn etc and attach the disapproval to this post so we can better understand? 

Edited August 28, 2020 by GBArmy
typo

[broncovet]

Ok.  My "opinion" may be premature, but it sounds a lot like you have a missing nexus.  To get one, go to your local Lexus car dealer.  (lol).  No, 

You need these 3 things for SC:

1.  Current diagnosis of hearing loss.  Im gonna assume you are hard of hearing and have a diagnosis.  

2.  "in service event" or aggravation.  From what you said, it sounds like the VA admitted you were exposed to noise.  

3.  Lastly, you need a Nexus.  This is a statment from your doctor or audiologist that its "at least as likely as not" your noise exposure in service caused your noise induced hearing loss.  

[Fat]

That's great advice BroncoVet.

Also, did your word recognition score and Audio Metric score meet the VA level.

It seems you have two issues. A nexus connecting noise exposure MOS to hearing loss and your audiology exam scores meeting VA standards for compensation.

Keep that appeal going.

[broncovet]

Yes, I agree with Fat.  There is a minimum threshold of hearing loss, and, while you could well be hard of hearing, it would not necessarily be severe enough to qualify for compensation.  

 

Interestingly, I have seen a "wide variety" of how VA rates hearing loss.  Most of the time, VA would rate Helen Keller at zero percent.  However, at other times, at least one Vet I know who can hear better than I can, got 50 percent for hearing loss.  

A couple years ago, I looked into this.  When I used the charts (VA), and plugged in my numbers, I got 50 percent hearing loss.  However, VA insisted that, even tho I used the criteria, it was wrong.  It turned out I got the benefits I wanted anyway, so I did not fight them on that.  (I guess you could call it "picking your battles".)

There are at least 2 ways of interpreting VA regulations.  

1.  The VA "hard core" way most employees and raters, as well as the computer software, uses.  

2.  The way the regulations so state.  

     I would really like to see somone "hold VA to the fire" there.  Hearing loss is the most common VA disability.  I think there are about 1 million Veterans with zero percent for hearing loss.  

    Incredibly, I was at zero percent.  I applied for an increase, and got 20 percent.  My audiologist told me my hearing did not get worse.  But I got an increase anyway.  I think this is the reason.  In my appeal, I demonstrated the charts, interpreted per regulations, showed my hearing loss at 50 percent.  

    

 

 

[Buck52]

 Most of the time WE ALL GET DENIED FOR HEARING LOSS The first and second time...

Now if your service connected but at 0% thats  half the battle...

I recommend to go get a private test  with a state license hearing specialist , take that test and compare them to the VA . LET THE PRIVATE DR know  what your needing to do and you have a claim in for hearing loss with the VA, let this private Dr read your medical records that pertain to your loss of hearing  and the private Dr can compare his test with the VA.

  COPY THE VA hearing loss criteria and ask the private Dr to use the VA Criteria and include the Maryland CNC word test..they know how to use that  its on CD.

IF YOU USE A SPECIALIST IN THE FIELD OF THE  E.N.T.  (ear-nose-throat) and he checks/Test your hearing and its more Loss  than what the VA Dr said it was   the VA will usually go with the private Dr Audiologist  SPECIALIST use this as your reliable evidence.

The VA hearing clinics or the VA ENT Clinics  do not calibrate the equipment regularly or check it and calibrate it enough  because there's is thousands of veterans get tested in between the calibration.

IT TAKES MOST OF US AN AVERAGE OF 3 TO 5 YEARS TO GET RATED FOR HEARING LOSS ABOVE 10%

IT'S A GOOD IDEAL TO GET ABOUT 5/6 NOTORIZED LAY STATEMENTS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT YOU HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS TO TESTIFY ABOUT YOUR HEARING LOSS  THEY CAN MENTION THAT THEY KNOW YOUR HARD OF HEARING  AND DESCRIBE why ect,,,ect,,,,(JMO)

Edited August 29, 2020 by Buck52

[bigbetty3id]

GBArmy, here's the VA decision