For any service connected disability we need the following
• a condition that manifested itself on active duty or within the first year from separation
• the condition must currently exist and be diagnosed by competent medical authority
• A nexus, or link of the current condition and the condition from active duty.

It is essential that any servicemember clearly document any service-connected injury or condition as thoroughly as possible and see that it be in their official medical files.

The VA looks at these documents first and they help support claims. Some VSO's are willing to help more than others, so it's a good idea to have your paperwork in order on your own prior to filing a VA claim.

Just a quick follow up to let you all know I got a response back from the VA.

0% disability for hearing loss and 10% disability for tinnitus. I'm pleased.

Once I got my paperwork submitted, the VA was actually very responsive and prompt. They arranged for a hearing exam at a nearby clinic (and mailed me a $6 check for gas money?!?!).

Thanks for the responses and feedback to my questions.

quote:

0% disability for hearing loss and 10% disability for tinnitus. I'm pleased

Congratulations, the 0% established the service connection. As your hearing condition becomes more severe, be sure to have follow-up exams and discuss the condition with your VSO.

quote:

0% disability for hearing loss and 10% disability for tinnitus. I'm pleased.

Now that you are service connected for hearing loss, you're on the right track. Take good care of your hearing. As time goes by it may only get worse if you don't attend to it.

Dave,

I also reacieve the 10% for tinnitus and )5 for hearing loss from my 29 years service. I remember reading on the AMVETS homepage something about the Veterans Appeals Court ruling that VA must consider the hearing loss in each ear seperately (possible leading to a 20% rating , instead of just 10%). At the time of the posting the VA was planning an appeal to the Supreme Court, or was it the US District Court. Anything further on this issue?

For factual information about hearing loss, go here.

I could find no such case on AMVETS web site or in the CVA decisions. Please provide the case inforamtion.

I did find this case from last year:

"[Update 8 February 2007] The Supreme Court of the United States has denied the petition for a writ of certioran in the case of Smith v. Nicholson, 451F.3d 1344(Fed Cir 2006). The denial renders the Federal Circuit's decision in the Smith case final. Therefore, no veteran is entitled to more than one ten-percent disability rating for tinnitus, regardless of whether the tennitus exists in one or both ears."

I believe that is the one I was referring to.

Thanks

It took me a long time to dig that out. Glad to help.

I am in a similar situation. I have also been granted hearing loss 0% and tinnitus(also claimed as otaglia and vertigo.)10%. I filed for meniere's, VA denied my claim three times, yes, three times. They just recently scheduled me for a C & P exam, after the three denials, as expected, VA exam report indicates that there is no connection between hearing loss and meniere's. In my case, I think that I already have a nexus between the tinnitus(also claimed as otaglia and vertigo) and my meniere's claim. I will be having a Dr. do an independent medical opinion for my hearing/appeal. Meniere's is a hard claim to win.

Keep at it; you'll do just fine!

Hi, just found this site and thought I would ask about my hearing. I served in the USMC in 68, 69 and 1970 and was a driver for an Amtrac. The engines on those things were terribly noisy and I caught two "floats" and had to be in the belly of an LSD that was even worse. After I got out of the MC, I had a constant ringing or crickets cherping in my ears but wanted to be a police officer. Since I'd never seen any police officer with hearing aids, I did my best to keep it a secrete but several of my fellow officers knew I couldn't hear. I retired from Law Enforcement about 10 years ago and am now 58 years old and have two hearing aids provided by the local VA. Is there any chance I could get disabiility for the hearing problems or is it too late?

Stevery
Check to see if your exam when you went into service shows a difference in your hearing on your exit exam. You might be able to prove it is service connected this way.
MCL

Stevery
One thing I forgot. They will try to blame your hearing loss on your gun qualifying as a police officer. They did this to me since I was a deputy sheriff and I had to appeal their decision. Been waiting since 2006. As you know we all wore some type ear protection when qualifying.
MCL

STEVERY

The hearing aids you received from the VA, were they as a result of a disability comp rating? even if the rating was ZERO, you would still qualify for hearing aids. You asked if you could get disability for your hearing and the answer to that is yes, if you can provide a nexus between military service and hearing loss, but aside that, apply anyway and see where the process takes you. However, this answer seems contradictory because (1) you ask if you can get disability and then (2) You got hearing aids from the VA already.
Eres Tu!
Freddy

Thanks for the replys! I really don't remember anything about my "exit exam." I guess I had one but couldn't tell you what it consisted of. Yeah, I figured they would try to blame the gun qualification but, like you said, we always wore ear protection and if anyone asked anyone who knew me, they would tell them that I have had hearing problems as long as they've known me. I became a police officer right out of the USMC.

I don't know about the "disability comp rating" thing. All I know is I went to the VA and complained about my wife constantly nagging about my ears. Told them I'd had troubles every since I got out of the USMC. They tested my ears in a large chamber and told me I needed hearing aids for both ears. They were free so I said fine and got them. A few years later, I went back and they retested me and gave me some new hearing aids. Much nicer and still free. Even the batteries are free.

I don't want anything I'm not entitled too, but with my police pension going in the economic toilet due to the meltdown, I just thought a little extra cash from the VA could come in handy. I really don't know how I could prove my hearing loss occured in the MC, I just know it did.

Hearing loss is usually a 10% or 0% disability. Small amount of money or none.

Living with tinnitus and hearing loss,incurred in combat is a
constant problem to live with and
seems to get worse with age.I
uncovered another serious problem
i believe seems to go along with these issues..and that appears to be a nerve problem that goes with the tinnitus as age creeps up...
to that add a diagnosed PTSD issue that i try and live with as well and im living in hell that so very hard to live with....ive looked at every possible way to deal with my feelings that seems battered and make me dwell in a state of weariness.....most days
i stay away from most people for fear of rejection.....i felt i could live with lonliness but with age its do much to bare.....i am scared to go again to the VA as my combat past when relived over and over was pushing me over the edge.
Yes i feel lonlely,and am lonley it seems hard for me to feel like other folks do and feeling strange
for so many years is putting me in the arena like a gladiator who can fight like the devil but this time with out any weapons to defend
myself....i feel abandoned ,doomed and to week to take on the Demon
monster that constantly is biting
off peices of my soal.....where d i go from here , god knows....its
god that i still feel is my only friend and i draw from his power
what ever strentgh stil keeps me going on....typing these feeling on here helps a bit with the stress.Does anyone out there come
close to this way i feel ,or am i alone in this mental misery? any
reply from any vets on what i have just written would be appreciated.
i remain your combat
viet vet trying to hold
on,yet living in fear.

Make sure that you have a proper VSO taking care of your affairs in every way. It's important that each and every individual be fully represented by a competent Service Officer.