VA claims

[Ben Smith]

   Has anyone put in a claim for hearing loss or skin problems. Your input would be most appreciated. Thank You

[Lee Hirschel]

Ben, I receive disability payments for hearing loss one side and tinnitus, I believe it is 10% for the two. Good luck and stay with the quest, be sure to get a service officer to help you. They know the correct questions to ask and the way to phrase the answers.

[Paul Albertine]

Ditto...go see a service officer, VFW, Viet Vets of America..etc.  They know how to navigate a government system.  You do not have to join their organization...they are happy to help all vets, not discouraging joining....but they never mention it.  Good Luck...thanks for putting on the uniform, and standing the watch...

[Howard Jacobs ROH]

Hearing loss and tinnitus is one of my compensated claims... I got 10% which is the max. You will have to have a hearing test and it's pretty cut and dry with their results. You have to be below a certain level for hearing loss.. I kept at it and never gave up which you have to do will almost all your claims.  I think you pretty much have to be deaf to get anything for hearing loss... but mine was for the tinnitus.  All they did was give me hearing aids... they help.. but you can't sleep with them.  Go for it with a rep like the others are saying... they do all the paper work. Any evidence you have reference to your claim like doctor visits, tests, etc. that you have had will help with your claim.

[Chuck Lander]

I too have a 10% disability for tinnitus.  I agree the service officer is a must.  It is difficult to get a disability for hearing loss, but there isn't a test for tinnitus so they have to go on what you tell them.  It is important that it started while you were on active duty.  They will provide hearing aids even if the hearing test does not meet disability limits.  The hearing aids do seem to help the tinnitus.  If I go without the aids for a day I can really tell the difference with the tinnitus. You may not want to wear your Harley shirt to the appointment or put any hobby down which is very noisy and of course you always use ear protection around loud noises.

[Ben Smith]

Thank you brothers for your  input on my inquiry.  I am currently receiving 40 % disability, 10% tinnitus and 30% for PTSD. I am using a VA rep., but I do not think he is really helping me much he has so many vets on his plate. I have an appeal in for hearing loss that I filed almost a year ago. Whenever I call to inquire about the progress they tell me that it is on an appeal officers desk for review. I just filed a new appeal with RAMP and will see what happens with that.


Thanks Again     Smitty                                                                                                                                                          

[jim Plona]

Smitty, have patience.  My last appeal item was just decided on July of 2017.  I started  my appeals process in April of 2011.  If you have given the VA all the evidence you have, just keep filing the VA letters you get.  Every time you send them something new, it creates huge delays.  Good Luck!

Jim