Follow These 6 Steps To Work To Get A Higher Va Disability Rate For Hearing Loss Using The Extra
DRO conferencecopy of your C-filecopy of the Hearing Examiners credentials and reporthow to get a copy of your VA C-File and how to USE it in your VA Claim or AppealC-File is loaded with lay evidence4 Pillars Video Training Course5 Star Evidence Field Manualget to the DRO Conferenceextra-schedular rating under 38 CFR 3.321appeal this denial to the Board of Veterans Appeals BVA judgeDoucettecontacting an attorney that has experience with appeals to the Veterans Court
How Do I Prove Hearing Loss For Va Disability
The hearing loss tests you will need to take with a state-licensed audiologist will demonstrate that your condition is service-connected. Hearing loss can be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed.
The three most important things you must demonstrate in order to establish service connection in a VA disability claim are sufficient to do so. Hearing loss disability claims are difficult to prove in the VA due to its difficulty in proving military service. The VA defines hearing loss as one of the few disability situations that has its own definition. A hearing loss disability in the VA is determined by the three options outlined in Section 3.385 of the VA Regulations. First, the auditor must set a threshold of 40 decibels or higher. The VHA does not have a working number of doctors, nor does it know which ones are licensed or are not. If you have a hearing loss that is classified as a disability, you will not be eligible for service-connected disability compensation for your hearing loss in the military. There may also be reports of an event in your service that caused or worsened your condition, medical opinions that link your hearing loss to the event, and a current diagnosis of your condition.
An Attorney Could Help You Pursue Veterans Hearing Loss And Tinnitus Claims
A condition that leaves you with a reduced ability to hear or a ringing in your ears may be the result of a head injury, a single exposure to loud noise, or persistent exposure to moderate noise. If this exposure occurred while you were on active duty and has a negative effect on your current quality of life, you might qualify for VA disability compensation benefits.
An experienced lawyer could help you gather the necessary evidence to pursue a claim and assist you with filing the case. If you have already filed a claim and received a denial, our team of attorneys could also help you file an appeal based on your hearing loss or tinnitus. Call VetLaw today to learn more about veterans hearing loss and tinnitus claims.
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How Much Money Can I Receive In Va Disability For My Hearing Condition
The amount you receive in VA benefits depends on your disability rating. VA assigns this rating based on its opinion of the severity of your condition. The more your hearing loss limits you, the higher disability rating VA assigns. The higher your disability rating, the more you receive in monthly benefits.
Disability Ratings And Va Benefits
The VA provides disability compensation for hearing loss and tinnitus.
The first thing a veteran needs to do is to establish that their hearing loss or tinnitus is connected to their service. Visit the VAs eligibility for benefits webpage to read more about how to start a claim.
For hearing loss and tinnitus, a veteran will need to know the basics of their condition:
The VA requires both a pure-tone and a Maryland CNC test for hearing loss. Depending on the results, the VA will assign a disability rating from 0 to 10 percent. You can read more about disability ratings from the VAs ratings guide.
For tinnitus, the disability rating is 10 percent. Veterans with hearing loss and tinnitus can get separate ratings for each disability.
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Hearing Loss Vs Tinnitus
Tinnitus refers to the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. Often, tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying condition, such as loss of hearing, an ear injury, or a circulatory system disorder. In some cases, veterans suffering from hearing loss may also experience tinnitus.
While on active duty, service members are consistently exposed to loud noises, including gunfire, machinery, armored vehicles, aircraft, and other combat-related noises. These loud noises can lead to both tinnitus and hearing loss among veterans.
How Much Does The Va Pay For Tinnitus And Hearing Loss
When your tinnitus recurs, you will be rated for it at 10%, which is determined by the severity of your condition and whether your condition affects both or only one ear. According to the VA compensation table, tinnitus sufferers who receive a 10% rating receive a monthly benefit of $152.64 in December 2021.
Navigating Va Disability Ratings For Tinnitus
Tinnitus with a disability rating of 10% in the VA is the norm. When a person experiences ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in their ears that are not caused by external forces, this is referred to as tinnitus. According to the VA, this condition is classified as Diagnostic Code 6260 in the Schedule of Ratings Ear. In most cases, the VA does not have a time limit for reviewing a disability application, but many cases take much longer. To make a decision, all factors, such as the type of claim filed, the severity of the condition, the amount of evidence included in the claim, and the veterans overall medical condition, must be considered. Tinnitus claims from military veterans should be handled with caution because they may take months or longer to process.
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How Do I Get A Va Rating For Hearing Loss
There are 3 primary ways a veteran can get a VA disability rating for Hearing Loss:
#1: Direct Service Connection for Hearing Loss with a rating of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% however, the average VA rating for Hearing Loss is 10%, and many veterans have a 0% rating, if theyre lucky enough to get their Hearing Loss service connected. Direct Service Connection means an in-service event, injury, or disease related to your military service caused you to develop Hearing Loss.
#2:Secondary Service Connection for Hearing Loss with a VA rating of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%. This is uncommon as Hearing Loss is mainly directly service connected.
#3. Aggravation of a Pre-Service Disability for Hearing Loss. Perhaps you entered active duty service with minor Hearing Loss, but the military made it worse. If your military service aggravated the condition beyond its natural progression, you can get Hearing Loss service connected and rated based on aggravation of a pre-service disability.
Veterans Eligibility For Va Hearing Healthcare
There are some criteria to receive a hearing aids device, at first you must qualify for VA Health Benefits. Get registered for hearing tests and examination, you will get licensed from the audiologist. Once you approved for health care benefits, all veterans shall receive hearing machines.
However, not every veteran is eligible to receive hearing aids. So, lets talk that who are eligible and can get the benefit of it.
Veterans are provided with Medical benefits once they are eligible for it. Eligibility criteria include-
- Former Prisoners of War.
- Veterans with hearing loss as a result of any disease or other medical conditions.
- Those who are permanently housebound or in need of regular aid and assistance.
- Veterans receiving benefits under Title 38 United States Code 1151.
- Individuals with a functional or cognitive impairment that affects daily living.
- Veterans with a service-connected hearing disability which contributes to a decrease in the ability to communicate.
- Veterans with a hearing disability which interferes with their ability to participate in their own medical treatment.
These are the few requirements lists for the Veterans. Where you can take benefits of it andyou can get free of cost hearing health care services like hearing examination or checkup, hearing devices, etc. so, it is very helpful for those veterans.
So these veterans can get their free of cost hearing aids as per eligibility norms.
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Was Your Hearing Damaged Or Lost In The Military
One of the inherent risks of military service is to a soldiers hearing. Whether from the deafening sounds of frontline combat, the noise of engines and other loud machinery, or accidents like misfires and explosions, there are constant threats to a soldiers ability to hear while he or she is serving on active duty. Even with consistent use of ear protection, many soldiers retire from the military sustaining permanent hearing loss. Some former members of the military even require hearing aids, and others may have gone deaf completely.
Whether you are partially deaf, have damaged hearing, or have lost the ability to hear completely, you may be able to qualify for significant disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for your condition.
In order to receive disability benefits for hearing loss from the VA, you simply need to prove that an injury or experience caused your hearing loss during your time in the military. Otherwise, you will not be able to receive benefits. Without a service connection often called a nexus in VA language the VA cannot approve a Veteran to receive disability compensation.
If you can establish that your hearing loss is service-related, the VA will rate your disability based on the severity of your hearing damage. Your disability rating can also be influenced by the impact that your hearing loss has on your ability to work, maintain relationships with friends and family, and function in everyday life.
Va Hearing Loss Claim Rating
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs official site, hearing loss and/or hearing damage affects nearly 30 million people in America alone. Hearing problems such as tinnitus are described by the VA as among the most prevalent service-connected disability among American Veterans. More than half of people over 75 will experience some form of hearing loss or hearing-connected issues.
What is the maximum VA rating for hearing loss? This question and others related to it are very important for veterans filing VA medical claims for service-connected hearing damage. And, as the above suggests, since hearing loss or damage is one of the most common VA medical claims, it is a very good idea to understand how the VA approaches such claims.
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What If My Hearing Loss Claim Is Denied
In some cases, a Veteran who has service-connected hearing loss will find their claim denied. This can happen for a few reasons:
- The VA often denies a claim if they cannot verify a connection between a Veterans hearing loss and their military service. Without this service connection, the VA cannot approve a claim.
- A claim can also be denied if the VA determines that a Veterans hearing loss, while service-connected, is not severe enough to justify receiving disability benefits. Some Veterans may find their claims denied because the VA rated their disability status at below ten percent. Since a 10 percent disability rating is the minimum required score to qualify for benefits, a rating that is any lower will not result in monthly payments.
- Sometimes, the VA will defer a Veterans hearing loss claim, meaning the claim has neither been approved nor denied. If the VA defers your claim, it typically means you have not completed a required step in the claim-filing process.
If your hearing loss claim has been denied, dont give up on fighting to receive disability benefits. However, its best not to fight alone having an attorney on your team when appealing a VA decision can help you get the best possible outcome.
Who Is Eligible For Hearing Aid Services
Veterans who apply for VA benefits for hearing loss are evaluated to determine if the disability is service-related. All veterans with service-connected auditory problems such as hearing loss or tinnitus qualify for hearing aid services, as well as the following:
- Those who are 10 percent or more disabled
- Those who were prisoners of war
- Those who served during World War I
- Those who served during the Mexican Border Periodbetween May 1916 and April 1917
- Those who receive special pension benefits
- Those whose hearing loss is caused by a medical condition thats been treated at a VA facility or resulted from treatment of that condition
- Those whose hearing loss is severe enough that in order to participate in their medical care, a hearing aid is needed
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Filing Va Hearing Loss Claims
Military hearing loss claims are very common, meaning the VA must be relatively strict to ensure they are only providing benefits to those who deserve it. There are multiple steps to earning compensation the first being to confirm that you qualify as a veteran with a disability, then proving that your VA disability hearing loss is service connected.
Preventing Hearing Loss In Todays Military
Veterans over 65especially those who spent an extended amount of time deployed in combat zonesare at nearly twice the risk of developing severe hearing loss compared to their peers.
Current service members can protect themselves against future hearing loss by following these protective measures:
- Minimize exposure to noisy environments: While it may not be possible to choose your level of exposure to loud sounds, do try to limit loud sound exposure, both at work and off-duty. Members of the military are at high risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
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What To Do When The Va Exam Doesnt Adequately Compensate The Symptoms Of Your Hearing Loss
Lay Evidence. Get more Lay Evidence. Get more Lay Evidence into your C-File.
Why? Well, heres how the Veterans Court answered that question in a recent case called Doucette:
Doucette v. Shulkin,
Va Ratings For Disabilities
Veterans may be entitled to compensation for disabilities they develop during their time in active service. The task of determining how much money veterans receive goes to the VA. By using a percentage-based rating system ranging from 0-100 using increments of 10 , the VA decides upon a disability rating that encompasses all of an individuals conditions. These ratings depend on the severity of a disability, which part of the body is affected, and how much of a hindrance the disability is to an individuals daily life.
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Get Help With Your Application
The staff at any VAC office, CAF Transition Centre or Service Canada office can assist you or call us at 1-866-522-2122. Service Officers with The Royal Canadian Legion or The War Amps of Canada can also assist you with your application, including helping you get all of the information you need to support your application. Their assistance is free of charge.
How An Accredited Representative Can Help You With Va Benefits For Hearing Loss
Having an experienced, and accredited, representative can be very beneficial when appealing an unfavorable decision for your condition. Accredited representatives can help collect evidence, craft arguments, and submit documentation on your behalf.
The veterans advocates at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick have helped veterans win the benefits they deserve, whether it be through establishing service connection, securing an increased rating, or winning TDIU benefits. If you need an accredited representative for help securing VA disability benefits for hearing loss, call our office today.
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Obtaining A Disability Rating
The VA will assign a disability rating based on the severity of hearing loss as measured by the Puretone Audiometric Test and the Maryland CNC Test. There is a table referred to as the Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based on Puretone Threshold Average and Speech Discrimination used to assign a Roman numeral designation based on where the percentage of speech discrimination and Puretone threshold average intersect. Each ear is rated separately, and then the results are combined to obtain a single disability percentage. The table system for rating hearing loss is outlined in 38 CFR § 4.85 – Evaluation of hearing impairment.
Ratings for hearing loss can range from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. A veteran with a 100% rating will be reviewed for entitlement to special monthly compensation. A veteran with a rating of 60% or more for a single disability or a total disability rating of 70% that includes two or more disabilities with one disability rated at 40% or more may be able to receive Total Disability Individual Unemployability benefits.
Va Disability Benefits For Tinnitus
Tinnitus can be a crippling disability for many veterans and can lead to sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety. It is a common disorder for the veteran population and is the most common disability in the VA system.
Because it is so common, tinnitus claims are heavily scrutinized. Those seeking disability compensation for tinnitus should file as soon as they develop symptoms and include detailed records that show excessive noise exposure during military service.
File your tinnitus claim the same way you would any other disability compensation claim. The standard compensation rate for tinnitus is 10%, whether it affects one or both ears. Many times, people with tinnitus also have hearing loss. Hearing loss is a separate, compensable disability that should be included as a condition on your VA claim if you have both.
Tinnitus may be temporary or chronic. There is no cure, but there are ways to manage the symptoms. Veterans suffering from tinnitus should consult their physicians about developing a treatment plan that works for them, such as using white noise machines, implementing stress management techniques, and making dietary and lifestyle changes.
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