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Hello, new to the board but have current 60% ratings based on both primary and secondary to primary.  I served with the 101st Airborne, 101st AG Company, Headquarters, as a 72L.  Don't laugh, but this is Administration Specialist.  My secondary MOS was 72C, Clerk Typist.  Hey give me a break, somebody had to type your orders and awards and discharges and meal cards.  Although my pay rate was as Specialist E-4, I had orders my final year of my 3 year commitment as Acting Sargent (E5) to fill open positions that required an NCO, most notably, Re-enlistment NCO, Brigade Recreational NCO (formed softball teams, bowling leagues), and most of all, TOPS Gofer, Go for this, Go for that.  I was also the Full Birds Driver, on and off base.  I guess I was a big BS'er but it sure had it's perks such as field operations in a heated Jeep, a heated tent as I sleep with the CO, TOP, and the Full Bird, while the E-1 kept the furnace running shoveling coal into the heater.  No mater the MOS, at that time I couldn't get to Ft. Campbell without a short stay at Ft. Benning for jump school.  I made one jump with the 101st Screaming Eagles and that is where most of my ratings come from.  One bad pilot and jumpmaster put several of us in the trees.  I received several injuries based on that one jump that I pay for each day now, walking with a cane, trying to stay away from the wheel chair.

Now to the Hearing Loss question. I have been told by my grown children (I'm divorced) for years that the TV was too loud, I embarrassed them in restaurants.  My daughter is soon to deliver my first Grandchild and she told me she feared I would scare the new baby with my loud voice.  I have on file with the VA that I have ringing in the ears but I sleep with it by using background noise and never knew you could file on it.  I complained to my VA Doctor (PA) and was sent for a hearing test that included tones and speech recognition.  I was completely surprised by the results.  I was told that my left ear was almost legally death and my right ear was not much better.  I've done some reading and it appears they did all the tests required for some service rating.  In addition to the tone and speech recognition test, they did two other tests, one having to do with my bones around my left ear and tones or something to that ear and also tests on my left ear while sending noises to my right ear.

I have read the CFR's now too many times that my head is spinning.  The Doctor wrote the following on my prescription, "Patient is medically cleared for Bilateral Hearing Aids.  Neurosensory hearing is most likely Service Connected".  Also included was a copy of the Audiogram Frequency Results as well as Speech Results.  As far as the Audiogram testing goes, the lady that did the test showed me the normal line which appears to be around 20-25db line while all my results and marks are 40 and below.  One frequency is below 70db.  I assume that is loss.  The way I read the CFR is that they take an average across all the mark frequency ranges to determine part of a possible rating.  As far as the Speech Recognition goes, I have no clue how to figure against the CFR.  Here is what is on the form, Threshold (SRT), Right 25db, Left 35db.  Word recognition has NU-6 circled, In Quiet, Right ear, 100% over 65db and Left ear 90% over 75db.  This test was performed by a private Doctor but obtained by the VA.  He said the VA would be contacting me about getting fitted for hearing Aids.

I have NOTHING in my records to show that I was exposed to loud noises other than normal range firing.  I had an explanation for what I think was the hearing lose but the Doctor didn't seem to care, he said the hearing protection from that era was worthless, today it is much better with better ear plugs and also headsets?  He said if you fired your rifle for quailifcation with the hearing protection we had at the time, most will generally have service connected hearing loss at my age of 55.

My explanation for the extra loud noises a 72L or 72C would be exposed to was this.  We had either quarterly or semi-annual allotments of ammo and weapons that were considered use or lose.  Because I was in the HQ company, a group of about 12 people, generally we were tasked with shooting all of this ammo and weapons every quarter so the Brigade or Battalion were allotted.  We fire endless rounds through our M16's, Grenades, M60's, 50 cal, LAW, 45 cal.  We shot up enough ammo that fit on three semi truck size loads over about three days, daylight to dusk.  Afterwords, my head pounded and my ears rang so loud and it felt like my head was going to explode for up to two weeks after.  We were told going on sick call was a waste of time, there was nothing they could do other than offer you an aspirin. I also spent a lot of time in a Huey, those turbines were very loud and we used no ear protection.  This is nothing in my records to indicate this as this was just considered part of my duties and verbal orders.

Now my question.  Based on the information I have presented here,  based on the CBR's, am I worthy of a rating, if so, how much?  Since I had this test through the VA do I still need to get a private test and of course the big question, I suppose I must file a C&P claim?  If so, is the original VA test enough with my narrative for a claim or will they re-test my hearing again?  Any help will be apreciated and God bless all you in those very dangerous MOS's that helped keep this country free and great.  Thanks.

Sorry if I hit a nerve.  I have started my own thread and should not have posted in another Vets thread.  My apologies.