Hearing Loss in VA Disability Claims (General) Forum

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Hearing Loss

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oneoldvet.tow411	Hearing Loss		Lead	[-]
Posts: 3 Jul 13 10 5:12 AM	Tags : None Trying to document noise levels I was exposed to as a Comm Center Specialist. VA has confirmed significant hearing loss. I need to make the service connection. Does anyone have any reliable sources of information regarding noise levels (decibels) of teletype machines (Models 19, 28, 29,30)?
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NavyNCC		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4634 Jul 13 10 9:01 AM Navy Chief Initiated by Choice Proud of Tradition	First and foremost welcome to VBN. We will do all we can to help. In your case your barking up the wrong tree. Showing the noise created by a teletype won't get you service connection. What will help you win your claim is showing that you had a hearing loss upon leaving service. THis would most likley be shown on your exit physical. If you can't show that you had a hearing loss at that time you don't stand a lot of hope in getting your hearing loss granted. VA has confirmed significant hearing loss. I need to make the service connection. Since hearing loss in not a presumptive condition of service, hearing loss can only be granted if you can show a loss while still on active duty. See if you can find copies of hearing test that were done in service. If you can show a decline in hearing you may have a basis for the claim being granted. Thank you for your Service. NavyNCC "We keep you alive to serve this ship"
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spencka		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 324 Jul 13 10 11:03 AM	When I got out ot he Marine Corps in 1977, I remember taking a physical, bt not sure it was my exit physical. I remember it more as a VA physical which I believe was due to a claim for an amputated l/h pinkie. The examination took place in Jacksonville - and I did receive a complete physical. Upon completion, I was told the following, I got 0% for my finger, but it was SC. Hearing loss was 0% but SC, Bronchitis - 0% but SC, Sinusitis - 0% but SC. I did receive 10% for Chronic Ear Infections (right ear). In the mid 90's, I began having severe dizzy spells - I would literall fall when I stood up - become nauseous, well you get the picture. I was awarded an additional 10% from the VA for Labrynthitis (Dizzy Spells), due to the ear infections in my right ear. I should tell you that over the years since getting out, I began losing my hearing in my right ear. It was obvious to me and my close freinds & family - that I had to turn my "good" ear towards the person speaking, have the radio & TVlouder than normal, etc. All these years I thought I was receiving compensation for hearing loss, but it wasn't until July of last year, when at the risk of losing my job due to lay-off's, that I registered with the VA clinic to see if I might qualify for any medical benefits. To my surprise, I was told that I would receive full medical coverage, excluding dental. It was also at this visit that I learned all these years I was receiving compensation for Chronic ear infections - not hearing loss, as I thought. Imagine my surprise!! Knowing I had lost most of my hearing, I filed a new claim for hearing loss - within one month I had my C&P and a check deposited into my checking account. As a result of what I've learned from this great site - I also have a claim in for sinusitis. Since getting out of the Marine Corps, my sinus problems have worsened. I suffer with frequent sinus issues, five or six times per year. I've had three sinus surgeries to remove polyps and I'll be having my fourth in the coming months. As Navy stated, unless your able to prove SC with your hearing loss, it's not likely you'll have much luck. Semper Fi! Steve
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panther		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 77 Jul 13 10 12:56 PM	My exit physical indicates I could hear a whispered voice from 15 feet in both my right and left ears. The audiometer section of the report is blank. I spent 2.5 years on a flight line that at various times had between 45-90 B-47s. There was no ear protection available. There is no way I can 'prove' SC. I can only submit a claim and hope. I did submit and am hoping. Good luck.
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gunsdogs		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1184 Jul 13 10 4:27 PM	So Panther the last B-47 was phased out in 1966. So here 44 years later. your filing for hearing loss with no documentation. IMHO your wasting your time and VA resources. Did\do you work/live in a sound proof environment from circa 1966 til now?
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panther		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 77 Jul 13 10 7:21 PM	So gunsdogs ... The claim was put in only after it was suggested by a VA doctor. But thank you for the military history lesson, your medical acumen, your humble opinion and your service. All are greatly appreciated.
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Moontoons		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 141 Jul 13 10 10:24 PM	oneoldvet wrote: Trying to document noise levels I was exposed to as a Comm Center Specialist. VA has confirmed significant hearing loss. I need to make the service connection. Does anyone have any reliable sources of information regarding noise levels (decibels) of teletype machines (Models 19, 28, 29,30)? Yes, I had to use it once and I can tell you, it's not enough to make the SC. Dog is my co-pilot.
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Moontoons		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 141 Jul 13 10 10:26 PM	panther wrote: My exit physical indicates I could hear a whispered voice from 15 feet in both my right and left ears. The audiometer section of the report is blank. I spent 2.5 years on a flight line that at various times had between 45-90 B-47s. There was no ear protection available. There is no way I can 'prove' SC. I can only submit a claim and hope. I did submit and am hoping. Good luck. You have a good chance based on your MOS. Noise exposure may be conceded. We know that WV testing is not sensitive nor reliable. Dog is my co-pilot.
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Moontoons		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 141 Jul 13 10 10:27 PM	gunsdogs wrote: So Panther the last B-47 was phased out in 1966. So here 44 years later. your filing for hearing loss with no documentation. IMHO your wasting your time and VA resources. Did\do you work/live in a sound proof environment from circa 1966 til now? You don't know what documentation there is and this is not a waste. Dog is my co-pilot.
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oneoldvet.tow411		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3 Jul 14 10 8:52 AM	NavyNCC wrote: First and foremost welcome to VBN. We will do all we can to help. In your case your barking up the wrong tree. Showing the noise created by a teletype won't get you service connection. What will help you win your claim is showing that you had a hearing loss upon leaving service. THis would most likley be shown on your exit physical. If you can't show that you had a hearing loss at that time you don't stand a lot of hope in getting your hearing loss granted. VA has confirmed significant hearing loss. I need to make the service connection. Since hearing loss in not a presumptive condition of service, hearing loss can only be granted if you can show a loss while still on active duty. See if you can find copies of hearing test that were done in service. If you can show a decline in hearing you may have a basis for the claim being granted. Thank you for your Service. I have a friend who served with me under the same circumstances and he received a disability rating for his hearing loss. We both worked 8 to 12 hour shifts in a 90db environment. I guess I should get a copy of his claim. I don't recall an exit physical that included any kind of a hearing test. Thanks, OOV
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Moontoons		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 141 Jul 14 10 8:58 AM	oneoldvet wrote: NavyNCC wrote: First and foremost welcome to VBN. We will do all we can to help. In your case your barking up the wrong tree. Showing the noise created by a teletype won't get you service connection. What will help you win your claim is showing that you had a hearing loss upon leaving service. THis would most likley be shown on your exit physical. If you can't show that you had a hearing loss at that time you don't stand a lot of hope in getting your hearing loss granted. VA has confirmed significant hearing loss. I need to make the service connection. Since hearing loss in not a presumptive condition of service, hearing loss can only be granted if you can show a loss while still on active duty. See if you can find copies of hearing test that were done in service. If you can show a decline in hearing you may have a basis for the claim being granted. Thank you for your Service. I have a friend who served with me under the same circumstances and he received a disability rating for his hearing loss. We both worked 8 to 12 hour shifts in a 90db environment. I guess I should get a copy of his claim. I don't recall an exit physical that included any kind of a hearing test. Thanks, OOV Without the benefit of entrance/exit exams, there has to be some type of documentation in the SMRs of excessive noise exposure. In some instances, there are interim records of tests as part of a hearing conservation program - mostly in the AF. In these instances, the exposed noise levels are documented somewhere in the SMRs. If there is a statement to that effect in your records, then the nexus can be made. However, if there is no documentation of your noise exposure, it becomes much tougher. Cases like yours, without the entrance/exit exams are tougher but not impossible. However, there has to be SUBSTANTIAL documentation in your SMRs of ROUTINE noise exposure and you have to have a current hearing loss that is consistent with having been exposed to noise rather than just the "aging" process. Dog is my co-pilot.
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oneoldvet.tow411		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3 Jul 15 10 1:04 PM	Moontoons wrote: Without the benefit of entrance/exit exams, there has to be some type of documentation in the SMRs of excessive noise exposure. In some instances, there are interim records of tests as part of a hearing conservation program - mostly in the AF. In these instances, the exposed noise levels are documented somewhere in the SMRs. If there is a statement to that effect in your records, then the nexus can be made. However, if there is no documentation of your noise exposure, it becomes much tougher. Cases like yours, without the entrance/exit exams are tougher but not impossible. However, there has to be SUBSTANTIAL documentation in your SMRs of ROUTINE noise exposure and you have to have a current hearing loss that is consistent with having been exposed to noise rather than just the "aging" process. Further complicating this situation is the fact that ALL of my service records were lost between Vietnam and CONUS. My friend suggested I get another VSO since he had absolutely no problem with his hearing loss claim. We both worked in the same high-noise facility for 3 1/2 years and were stationed in VN together. As a teletype maintenance person he can substaniate the high decibels we were sibjected to during those years. It would be near impossible to identify or notice the beginning of a hearing loss while you spend a third to half your waking day in the noise noise environment that caused the loss. Thanks for your time and advice.
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ukrmh	Don't give up!	#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 33 Jul 15 10 4:09 PM	oneoldvet Don't give up on this one. I was a crypto repair guy (KW-7's) in Vietnam, but spent most of my time repairing Kleinschmidts. They were very noisy, but I was exposed to other noises, too. I worked near generators, flew a lot on 130's, and lived near a helicopter pad. Also, we had a lot of incoming rocket attacks.... A lot of guys returned from VN and were immediately discharged. My buddy told me they were given an option upon return at Oakland Army Terminal to wait around for physicals, or just walk out the door after the fitting of the Class A and the steak dinner. Most just waked out the door as a civilian, with no hearing test taken. Years later, they paid a price. Unfortunatley (or fortunatley, as it turned out for me), I had more than 6 months remaining, and reported to my last duty station, where I was given an exit hearing test just before discharge. It showed losses at all frequencies, and in 3 frequency ranges, I was already mildly deaf. My entrance hearing test was perfect, so between 67 and 69, the damage was done. I really didn't notice it that much at the time. My hearing grew progressively worse over the years, and I asked the VA for help in 1984. They denied my claim, and my appeal. Their letter of denial stated "hearing was normal at entrance and discharge". Like a lot of VN vets at the time, I was still angry and just dropped it. I did NOT have access to my Army medical records at that time, nor was I aware they existed. Fast forward to 2007: Now retired and less angry, and with more time on my hands, I reopened the claim through the VFW, and got copies of my Army med. records, which showed the loss over the 2-year period. With my renewed claim, I had copies of declining hearing tests over the years (8 civilian tests between 1979 and 2007), plus receipts for hearing aids I had to buy since the early 90's. Also, I did not work around noise as a civilian all those years after Vietnam, nor did I pursue loud hobbies, like shooting guns. I got a private audiology exam, and the audiologist wrote a letter on my behalf to the VA, saying those magic words "more likely than not"! The VA's own exam stated "at least as likely". In Dec. 2008, I was awarded a hearing loss disability, so now they at least pay for the expensive hearing aids, plus I get a little $ every month. I thought I might be due a CUE on this, but the VFW didn't seem like they wanted to pursue it. I suggest you try to contact buddies who served there with you to verify the noise exposure, since you don't seem to have had a hearing test. That might work, but don't give up- you have nothing to lose except your time! Also, get a good VSO from the VFW, AL or DAV to represent you! Thanks for serving. Bob
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