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VETERANS' SERVICE OFFICER GIVES ADVICE ON
FILING
A CLAIM FOR HEARING LOSS -- Excellent
information
from Ed Ball of Sidney, Ohio.
This information comes from Ed Ball who
is a Veterans' Service Officer in Sidney, Ohio.
I want to thank Ed for allowing me to
pass this on to you.
Ed's advice below:
---------------
Larry,
As a result of filing numerous tinnitus and hearing loss claims, ("and
getting the veterans awarded more times than not - audiograms/speech
discrimination didn't support moderate to severe hearing loss"), I've
been amazed by the number of veterans that seem to think since they
can't prove exposure to traumatic acoustic events in their military
career, they just won't file. (Combat veterans - hearing loss is
conceded as happened in service by VA, rated based on current audiogram
and speech discrimination figures.)
Here are a few web sites that will definitely help the veterans in
providing the VA Regional Offices the actual exposure levels they may
have been exposed to:
A good civilian web site and file would be found at:
http://www.e-a-r.com/hearingconservation/faq_main.cfm
Then under Noise Hazard they would want to
download the Excel Database that list over 1700 Noise sources.
http://www.e-a-r.com/pdf/
hearingcons/NoiseNav.xls
The individual Service Departments have web sites or instructions on
Hearing Conservation programs as well:
U.S. Army (one of the best)
http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/hcp/NoiseLevels.aspx
U.S. Navy (click on the modules - great reference material)
http://www-nehc.med.navy.mil/occmed/HCToolbox.htm
USMC
http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/sd/occhealth.htm
U.S. Air Force (restricted by username and password - probably active
duty only)
Then I remind the RVSRs at the VA Regional Office of OSHA's permissible
noise exposure in Table G-16:
http://www.osha.gov/pls/
oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?
p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9735
A traumatic acoustic event in conjunction with noise induced hearing
loss greatly weighs in on the "benefit of the doubt" in favor of the
veteran. For good measure, aircraft carrier flight decks during flight
ops is normally 146db and pain in the ear happens around 130db.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
health/hearing/noise.asp
Given the medical evidence supports the claim based on the 1000 to 4000
hz frequency range along with indicators for speech discrimination for
disability purposes, recommend folks talk up their exposure to noise in
the military when visiting their doctors for hearing exams and make sure
it's noted in the exam. (i.e., (+) Severe noise exposure in military) or
if the veteran has copies of his/her medical service records, and can
show audiograms periodically since released from active duty, they may
be able to get a medical opinion to support their claim.
Veterans must be able to show two key factors:
1. Traumatic Acoustic Event
2. Disability incurred in Service
As the VA has a "Duty to Assist" will their raters look up the impulse
noise levels? I don't believe so, that's why I provide all the
information up front.
Hope this helps,
Ed Ball
Veterans Service Office
133 S. Ohio Ave.
Sidney, Ohio 45365
(937) 498-7283
You can
reach Ed by email here...
---------------
Larry Scott --
