I have experienced hearing loss due to a firing mission during field training in 1976, but did not go on sick call to have my ears tested for damage. My question is, what could I do if any to see if I could be placed on VA disability for it? I am not whining I am just curious about it. Someone here in MA had told me I could get VA disability for the hearing loss.

I faught for about 5 years for disabilty, I was awarded it went from 20% to 100% do to a whole list of Items, I found that if you have all your work done at the VA Hospitial It is less painfull and DAV and American Will Help alot. If you need some one to talk to Look me up. All my info is in my Military profile Yours truely John T McDowell SSG, USA Retired

The VA hospital system, at least here in Albuquerque NM is over-stressed. It seems it always has been overloaded.
Here there are lotsa new vets from Iraq, Afganistan and e.t.c. The "Wars."
Once you are in the "system," that is, you have asssigned to you a primary care physician, things "smooth out" to a degree.
I have encountered long waiting lists to some clinical appointments, however, as long as 3-4 months. Three or four months, it seems to me is TOO LONG a timeframe to see a doctor, receive pt, or get a pair of glasses.
You can ***** all you want, nothing happens.
There a few "angels" in the system whoreally seem to care, but even these individuals cannot overcome the bureaucracy.
Having been treated in both civilian and VA hospitals recently, the big picture is that the VA is at least, equal to, if not superior to "treatment" received by patients.
Civilian hospitals are quicker in referrals and appointments to specialists, however, I believe as a result of the "copay" system whereby the specialists do not get paid until the services are rendered, a pecuniary system not found at the VA. And, too, the VA's prescription co-pay system for prescriptions is about equal to the civilians. Many of my va scripts have the same copay as my civilian hmo, or managed care, government (State) sponsored plan.

quote:

Originally posted by jaybeeinabq:
.... Once you are in the "system," that is, you have asssigned to you a primary care physician, things "smooth out" to a degree.
I have encountered long waiting lists to some clinical appointments, however, as long as 3-4 months. Three or four months, it seems to me is TOO LONG a timeframe to see a doctor, receive pt, or get a pair of glasses ...

If the US goes to universal health care, like in our neighbors to the north, these waiting periods you are experiencing are not bad in comparison to what UHC time frames will be.

Over the last several years I have learned a couple of things; Don't wait until I need new glasses to schedule an appointment. It always takes several months to get an eye appt. Same for annual physical. I learned to schedule my next one a year out. I am fortunate to have tricare, and they pay 100% of an eye exam, once a year. So, I do that with a local eye dr, and drive up to the VA hosp with my new prescription to order new glasses, using my civilian doctor's prescription.

I receive excellent care, but there are a lot of ins and outs to navigating "the system".

My 2c.

--Jim
Life is good.