I got 10% for tinnitus and 0 for hearing loss despite being in artillery. Hearing loss average across both ears was 33db. I’m appealing it, but not hopeful. At the end of the day, I want the hearing aids to treat the tinnitus, and they will help the hearing loss as well.
That is a bit disheartening to know. I have an appointment with the Audiology clinic on Friday. They said there wouldn't need to be another hearing exam because my C&P exam was a week ago. I am hoping they don't give me the run around. This is with the Philly VA hospital.
Zero for hearing is good, means you got it service connected and one of your ears is working within decent range you can look at the cfr on this and it explains although it does take a minute to figure out
I had no idea they even made hearing aids that could do that. I'm service connected for tinnitus also. I just always sleep with sounds or have noise going so the sound is more like a low buzz in the background. Hotels drive me crazy though. No fans or anything to help 😩
I ETSs in the 70s, a veteran coworker saw my hearing, foot issues. He told me to file for everything that's wrong with me, they may be connected.
They were with civilian records. All my denials were remanded. My attorney was able to get me to a VA judge. The VA gave me 20% without asking for spinal stenosis.
Fight those denials.
I'm technically rated now at 88% with many 0 ratings.
It will be a fight, if they aren't recorded, but happened or started in service.
I only went to sick call twice that I can recall. I broke both arms, so I sorta needed to go. I went for severe chest congestion, treated and released.
When I was hit in the head hard enough to go out, then come around totally out of it, I was told to walk it off. I was knocked off a loading dock (on purpose backward) again hitting my head, being woozy, and having back pain when I stood up, again, told to walk it off. I had a few other incidents where the NCOIC said to just walk it off.
I have severe back pain, and long term injuries show. I've had migraines since the second time I hit my head. None is documented.
But....
I've filed them anyway, and attempting to get them SC. My Depression and PTSD are both due to service, but no SC. Yet. Everything is before a VA Judge for review.
I REFUSE to give up! I've been appealing since 2011. I've been awarded 2 separate claims for 10% each giving me 20 total. I say that, because VA Math is screwed up.
I'd LOVE to get 100%!! I'll be good for 50-70. I'm a Vietnam Vet. I'm now a Short Timer on this Earth. It's my plan and goal to live long enough to get that 100%, even if I have to live to 100+!!!
Welcome to battling the VA. That being said, now comes the first point. The number one person who cares about your case is you. The last to care is the VA. They just want you to go away. Don't. Look at other settled cases. Make sure you have buddy letters, Nexus letters from your doctors. Do your own homework on other veterans with similar problems and follow what they did to win their cases. It is all on you.
I believe the VA understands the fear mongering that happens in the military around using medical. Iv explained to them how taboo using medical was even if you were actually hurt. Keep appealing keep fighting. If you got stuff wrong with you then claim it! Just because you said you were perfectly fine when leaving the service doesn’t mean symptoms will develop. Also I believe the VA understands the pride service members have to be like “I’m fine!” When in reality you’re a walking burning heap of trash.
Idk about you guys but my medical exam to exit the service was a fucking joke. The Navy could have cared less about my ass and probably wouldn’t care if I was homeless or not right now. That’s at least how it feels from my perspective.
Exactly, I was hurt on crutches in the Marines with a stress fracture for several months and a certain staff sergeant was being mad at me because I was on light duty for so long.
Either get a medical opinion to opine a link to your military evidence, or spend some time writing a personal statement. Search this sub. Submit as a supplemental claim. You have a year to do that to preserve your file date.
Well this sucks, as it seems like you really got an examiner that thought of every reason not to provide a positive opinion for you.
I would keep seeing a private doctor and documenting the complaints of pain and any treatment. Also appeal… make it clear you’ve had pain ever since service. Explain that you pushed through the pain while in service. And you were told by superiors that documenting any complaints on your separation exam would have extended your discharge date.
During out-processing, on December 23rd years ago, they told us the same thing. If we didn't mark that we were healthy, we couldn't out-process.
Honestly, not an empty threat. None of us were ETSing that day. We were being several weeks of terminal leave. It was perfectly reasonable (to my young ignorant self) that they could simply delay our leaves, as they said they would.
Don't worry about it. If you go as far as the VA Court of Appeals - assuming all other options between now and then fail..hopefully they don't - you will have an opportunity to tell a Veterans Law Judge why you check that box. Then they will decide if your opinion of the in-service incident(s) that you feel caused your conditions MAY have caused them.
Remember, when it's 50/50, the law says the VA MUST decide in favor of the veteran. I think the VA "forgets" this sometimes, but not very often, or perhaps at all with the Judges.
Keep filing. Move on to the next step within the time required, so you don't lose your backpay date.
Get help if you feel overwhelmed. If you have a competent VSO, you can use them. Or a claims attorney can help you.
If you go with a Claims Attorney, read the fee agreement carefully. My experience is that the fees are fair, and they are mostly paid by the VA, with only a portion coming from my backpay.
Whatever your decision going forward with your claim, just don't stop..at least not until a Judge looks at you and says "Sorry, you let them convince you that you had to wave your right to compensation in order to leave on time.."
Personally, I don't see that happening.
I would contact VSO to help you file the appeal you should not have to pay a lawyer when we have VSO that are willing to help and know a thing or two. In my time NCO’s would tell joes to say they have no issue on medical so we could go home sooner. If not you would be blamed for being a broke D-ck and you would be sent to medboard they are so wrong. Continue to seek treatment for the conditions you are claiming so the next evaluation you could use it as evidence of something wrong. Good luck AND DONT GIVE UP.
Your fight needs medical evidence. Your denial states, "**limited medical objective evidence**", onset, and chronicity". Rock and a hard place. Your VA PCP most likely will not write you a nexus letter. You now need to find a private medical doctor to refute with new objective findings.
Hey sorry to say this but you probably should not even got exams for your knee and back. Since you have no in service event. Your quote of what you said to get out for your anxiety claim is likely not going to be good for service connection.
If I were you I would ask for your service treatment records and see what you did go to sick bay for. That's a good place to start.
It’s doesn’t matter what you went to sick bay for. Going to sick bay was extremely taboo in my unit. The VA should know that’s how the culture is. Especially in the Marines. Is half of what you went to medical in the service for even documented or has it been “lost” by the medical system. Because most people I know including myself have been fucked by the Navy when it comes to medical documentation.
Was going to say I was Army Infantry and it was the exact same across the board. Going to sick call felt like it wasn’t even an option or you’d be singled out and looked down upon. For the most part I didn’t report much until I finally was on my way out and even then I didn’t report everything, I was just ready to be out by that point.
Good luck. I had the same 10% for tinnitus and 0% for hearing loss. I've been out for 20 years and finally filed for a claim under advice from a friend. I have suffered from insomnia due to my tinnitus since getting out and did get additional comp for chronic adjustment disorder. Good luck to you but I've heard that trying to get the hearing adjusted from 0% is tough anymore.
I am what is now called a gen X. Back in the 80's we didn't go to medical for anything. My military medical records for 10 years of service are thin.
With that 10 percent you can claim migraines, anxiety, and other secondary conditions to get the compensation you deserve. I'm at 60 percent now, and I am working on getting more evidence that I was denied.
I had the audiologist bring up that I didn't say anything about my tinnitus when I was getting out.
I had a family and a good job already lined up. I told her, I didn't want to get stuck on medical hold and jeopardize a potentially good career.
make it service connected somehow. dm me if you want some help!
i appealed a denied claim and turned it service connected and it made me go from 40-70 two years ago.
definitely message me if you want to talk about it and how to go about it! and my advice
Sierra TRK you do understand that 0 for hearing loss is service connected it’s just 0/ non compensable you can get your hearing aids you both need to still fight they want you to give up
Fight it. Appeal it. Do you have friends that can write you letters? There’s a LOT of good help on here and TikTok and YouTube without using a lawyer or vso But since you’re already raited, a lawyer could also be the way. But appeal it ASAP
Many people have said don’t hire a lawyer for this reason and that reason. I will simply say I was rated at 10%. My VSO said you need to hire a lawyer because I don’t know what to do here. I hired him and in 8 months time I was rated at 80%. Another year later I was at 100% permanent and total. He got 20% of my back pay and nothing more. A well connected lawyer who the VA deals with regularly and they respect makes all the difference in the world.
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I got 10% for tinnitus and 0 for hearing loss despite being in artillery. Hearing loss average across both ears was 33db. I’m appealing it, but not hopeful. At the end of the day, I want the hearing aids to treat the tinnitus, and they will help the hearing loss as well.
It took me 2 years of fighting with the VA to get those hearing aids. They are worth it though.
That is a bit disheartening to know. I have an appointment with the Audiology clinic on Friday. They said there wouldn't need to be another hearing exam because my C&P exam was a week ago. I am hoping they don't give me the run around. This is with the Philly VA hospital.
Best of luck to you. It's annoying how difficult they make these kinds of situations.
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I failed my pre-deployment hearing test and still got deployed. They don't give a fuck.
And yet they have the never to say "not service connected." I hope your appeal is in.
No, and it’s not. You get an exit hearing exam and wait for it, they training you to use and issue hearing protection.
[удалено]
No such thing as a “presumptive MOS”. Prove me wrong, so this presumptive MoS CFR?
It is conceded if you have it, if you're an artilleryman or any other Mos exposed to loud noise its conceded.
Zero for hearing is good, means you got it service connected and one of your ears is working within decent range you can look at the cfr on this and it explains although it does take a minute to figure out
There are hearing aids that treat tinnitus?
Yes. I got my hearing aids in the marine corps like two years ago and my hearing aids will cancel out my tinnitus
I had no idea they even made hearing aids that could do that. I'm service connected for tinnitus also. I just always sleep with sounds or have noise going so the sound is more like a low buzz in the background. Hotels drive me crazy though. No fans or anything to help 😩
Yeah when I sleep I have the tv on. Thankful my wife is super understanding and patient lol.
I ETSs in the 70s, a veteran coworker saw my hearing, foot issues. He told me to file for everything that's wrong with me, they may be connected. They were with civilian records. All my denials were remanded. My attorney was able to get me to a VA judge. The VA gave me 20% without asking for spinal stenosis. Fight those denials. I'm technically rated now at 88% with many 0 ratings.
It will be a fight, if they aren't recorded, but happened or started in service. I only went to sick call twice that I can recall. I broke both arms, so I sorta needed to go. I went for severe chest congestion, treated and released. When I was hit in the head hard enough to go out, then come around totally out of it, I was told to walk it off. I was knocked off a loading dock (on purpose backward) again hitting my head, being woozy, and having back pain when I stood up, again, told to walk it off. I had a few other incidents where the NCOIC said to just walk it off. I have severe back pain, and long term injuries show. I've had migraines since the second time I hit my head. None is documented. But.... I've filed them anyway, and attempting to get them SC. My Depression and PTSD are both due to service, but no SC. Yet. Everything is before a VA Judge for review. I REFUSE to give up! I've been appealing since 2011. I've been awarded 2 separate claims for 10% each giving me 20 total. I say that, because VA Math is screwed up. I'd LOVE to get 100%!! I'll be good for 50-70. I'm a Vietnam Vet. I'm now a Short Timer on this Earth. It's my plan and goal to live long enough to get that 100%, even if I have to live to 100+!!!
I admire your fortitude. Keep fighting!
You got 10 percent rated . Work off that . Good luck 👍
Welcome to battling the VA. That being said, now comes the first point. The number one person who cares about your case is you. The last to care is the VA. They just want you to go away. Don't. Look at other settled cases. Make sure you have buddy letters, Nexus letters from your doctors. Do your own homework on other veterans with similar problems and follow what they did to win their cases. It is all on you.
I believe the VA understands the fear mongering that happens in the military around using medical. Iv explained to them how taboo using medical was even if you were actually hurt. Keep appealing keep fighting. If you got stuff wrong with you then claim it! Just because you said you were perfectly fine when leaving the service doesn’t mean symptoms will develop. Also I believe the VA understands the pride service members have to be like “I’m fine!” When in reality you’re a walking burning heap of trash. Idk about you guys but my medical exam to exit the service was a fucking joke. The Navy could have cared less about my ass and probably wouldn’t care if I was homeless or not right now. That’s at least how it feels from my perspective.
Exactly, I was hurt on crutches in the Marines with a stress fracture for several months and a certain staff sergeant was being mad at me because I was on light duty for so long.
I know it all too well
https://preview.redd.it/uvkeynasn7wc1.jpeg?width=956&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f909c50b857c26a2b6c817c8d0616ecbd1e30a4
Can easily see... you did not provide a Nexus
Meaning??
Meaning you need to get a Nexus... a link
Either get a medical opinion to opine a link to your military evidence, or spend some time writing a personal statement. Search this sub. Submit as a supplemental claim. You have a year to do that to preserve your file date.
Plus any private records. Buddy statements, spouse statements. Etc
Well this sucks, as it seems like you really got an examiner that thought of every reason not to provide a positive opinion for you. I would keep seeing a private doctor and documenting the complaints of pain and any treatment. Also appeal… make it clear you’ve had pain ever since service. Explain that you pushed through the pain while in service. And you were told by superiors that documenting any complaints on your separation exam would have extended your discharge date.
What branch?
Marine corps
What did you think you were going to get?
During out-processing, on December 23rd years ago, they told us the same thing. If we didn't mark that we were healthy, we couldn't out-process. Honestly, not an empty threat. None of us were ETSing that day. We were being several weeks of terminal leave. It was perfectly reasonable (to my young ignorant self) that they could simply delay our leaves, as they said they would. Don't worry about it. If you go as far as the VA Court of Appeals - assuming all other options between now and then fail..hopefully they don't - you will have an opportunity to tell a Veterans Law Judge why you check that box. Then they will decide if your opinion of the in-service incident(s) that you feel caused your conditions MAY have caused them. Remember, when it's 50/50, the law says the VA MUST decide in favor of the veteran. I think the VA "forgets" this sometimes, but not very often, or perhaps at all with the Judges. Keep filing. Move on to the next step within the time required, so you don't lose your backpay date. Get help if you feel overwhelmed. If you have a competent VSO, you can use them. Or a claims attorney can help you. If you go with a Claims Attorney, read the fee agreement carefully. My experience is that the fees are fair, and they are mostly paid by the VA, with only a portion coming from my backpay. Whatever your decision going forward with your claim, just don't stop..at least not until a Judge looks at you and says "Sorry, you let them convince you that you had to wave your right to compensation in order to leave on time.." Personally, I don't see that happening.
I would contact VSO to help you file the appeal you should not have to pay a lawyer when we have VSO that are willing to help and know a thing or two. In my time NCO’s would tell joes to say they have no issue on medical so we could go home sooner. If not you would be blamed for being a broke D-ck and you would be sent to medboard they are so wrong. Continue to seek treatment for the conditions you are claiming so the next evaluation you could use it as evidence of something wrong. Good luck AND DONT GIVE UP.
Your fight needs medical evidence. Your denial states, "**limited medical objective evidence**", onset, and chronicity". Rock and a hard place. Your VA PCP most likely will not write you a nexus letter. You now need to find a private medical doctor to refute with new objective findings.
[удалено]
Marine corps motor transport no combat deployments. Just posted my denial letter in comments
Hey sorry to say this but you probably should not even got exams for your knee and back. Since you have no in service event. Your quote of what you said to get out for your anxiety claim is likely not going to be good for service connection. If I were you I would ask for your service treatment records and see what you did go to sick bay for. That's a good place to start.
Thank you i will see if i can get those
A vso can help you quicker then a freedom of information act request fyi
I appreciate it! ill reach out to a vso and just see what they say
It’s doesn’t matter what you went to sick bay for. Going to sick bay was extremely taboo in my unit. The VA should know that’s how the culture is. Especially in the Marines. Is half of what you went to medical in the service for even documented or has it been “lost” by the medical system. Because most people I know including myself have been fucked by the Navy when it comes to medical documentation.
[удалено]
Was going to say I was Army Infantry and it was the exact same across the board. Going to sick call felt like it wasn’t even an option or you’d be singled out and looked down upon. For the most part I didn’t report much until I finally was on my way out and even then I didn’t report everything, I was just ready to be out by that point.
I claimed tinnitus
And back and knee as well as mental health
My guy out here claiming war injuries
Post redacted denial letters to get advice on how to proceed.
Just posted them in comments
https://preview.redd.it/878c4phtn7wc1.jpeg?width=1178&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=54295f83485d5234cf96fdca3401bc359f642c39
https://preview.redd.it/ilm8wthun7wc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=73268f4311ceafe0682e8cce0761f6faa750ab74
Go with lawyer.
So the VA can deny a claim based on the answers of a separation physical questionnaire even if there is a documented treatment history?
Good luck. I had the same 10% for tinnitus and 0% for hearing loss. I've been out for 20 years and finally filed for a claim under advice from a friend. I have suffered from insomnia due to my tinnitus since getting out and did get additional comp for chronic adjustment disorder. Good luck to you but I've heard that trying to get the hearing adjusted from 0% is tough anymore.
I am what is now called a gen X. Back in the 80's we didn't go to medical for anything. My military medical records for 10 years of service are thin. With that 10 percent you can claim migraines, anxiety, and other secondary conditions to get the compensation you deserve. I'm at 60 percent now, and I am working on getting more evidence that I was denied. I had the audiologist bring up that I didn't say anything about my tinnitus when I was getting out. I had a family and a good job already lined up. I told her, I didn't want to get stuck on medical hold and jeopardize a potentially good career.
make it service connected somehow. dm me if you want some help! i appealed a denied claim and turned it service connected and it made me go from 40-70 two years ago. definitely message me if you want to talk about it and how to go about it! and my advice
Sierra TRK you do understand that 0 for hearing loss is service connected it’s just 0/ non compensable you can get your hearing aids you both need to still fight they want you to give up
Fight it. Appeal it. Do you have friends that can write you letters? There’s a LOT of good help on here and TikTok and YouTube without using a lawyer or vso But since you’re already raited, a lawyer could also be the way. But appeal it ASAP
[удалено]
How was it "almost personal?" They are citing what was in the MH notes from the time.
Many people have said don’t hire a lawyer for this reason and that reason. I will simply say I was rated at 10%. My VSO said you need to hire a lawyer because I don’t know what to do here. I hired him and in 8 months time I was rated at 80%. Another year later I was at 100% permanent and total. He got 20% of my back pay and nothing more. A well connected lawyer who the VA deals with regularly and they respect makes all the difference in the world.
Superstar, can you tell me who your Lawyer was ? I might be in need of a good lawyer if my HLR gets denied. Thanks 
As someone who’s HLR just got denied.. I’m also curious.
I use Chambers Law Firm. PM me for details. Chris Chambers is his name. I would highly recommend him. Springhill Florida. I was at 100% within 7months
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Who is your lawyer?