Experiences with hearing loss.

Slight hissing. Not ringing yet.

Have been shooting with good muffs. Now I use plugs and muffs. Especially in the indoor range, at the advice of ear dr. Also use them for large caliber rifles.

Just had molds made for plugs.

Here's one for ya'll , background first . Nam Era Vet with firearms training through most small arms weapons with no hearing protection required or provided . Then thirty years of machining and assembly of iron valves and hydrants with a strict hearing protection policy in place as well as annual hearing tests and all of this with nary a problem with hearing , not even tinnitus. Now , forced into retirement I sit here typing my ears are ringing big time ! Annoying as all get out but I have been told by trusted Doctors and ENT my particular problem is from medications for chronic heart condition . Ain't that a kick in the keister but hearing loss beats the Dirt Nap !

Working off of a cell phone, I just now have noticed bassdogs and CoalTrain's tales of similar woe to mine. Selfishly, glad to know I am not the Lone Ranger!

But no matter, One more onslaught will be made on the VA Citadel, armed with the new info provided by my fellow posters.

I will report back ASAP to THR HQ when the final dust settles! .

My wife sold hearing aids for many years and there is a sad secret about the industry. They will try to sell you a good set of aids that correct your current hearing loss but will not have enough excess gain to take care of future hearing loss. She was under constant pressure to sell aids that would require a new set in three years. Compare your audiogram to the output curves of the aids they are selling you to make sure your aids have reserve power to take care of future problems.

She always was on me to wear hearing protection when using power tools and lawn cutting. I also wear plugs under amplified muffs when using indoor ranges. At 63 I have some hearing loss in my right ear but not enough to bother with yet.

Red Wing,

If you have questions just ask.

VA disability is NOT MEANS TESTED. I know a Vietnam Vet who makes right around $750,000 a year and he's receiving $1888.48 per month in disability from the VA. He's rated 90% and he's married.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure where you are getting your information but it isn't correct. There are about 8 levels of vet disability now. A lot of it has to do with combat designated areas and if you were ever stationed in one of those areas. I wasn't so no cigar. Where I was wasn't a combat designated area so every service connected disability claim that I have made is means tested. I wasn't in Vietnam, I was in North Africa, undisclosed.

I'm over the rejection. Sort of like a bad dream. Some people just fall through the cracks. Life goes on.

From the VA Benefits schedule

If you meet these requirements, you must then demonstrate:

1. a medical diagnosis of the current disability;
2. medical evidence of an in-service injury; and
3. a connection between the injury and your disability.

Click to expand...

It is a very difficult threshold when there is no actual wound or other obvious, witnessed or documented evidence.
This is the case with my non combat related hearing loss.

Back to O/P

I have severe tinnitus as a result of inflammatory arthritis in one of my ears, you can also get it along with deafness as a result of taking various narcotic type painkillers for extended periods. Major issue to is to preserve what you can.

I'm not sure where you are getting your information but it isn't correct. There are about 8 levels of vet disability now. A lot of it has to do with combat designated areas and if you were ever stationed in one of those areas. I wasn't so no cigar. Where I was wasn't a combat designated area so every service connected disability claim that I have made is means tested. I wasn't in Vietnam, I was in North Africa, undisclosed.

I'm over the rejection. Sort of like a bad dream. Some people just fall through the cracks. Life goes on.

Click to expand...

You're confusing HEALTH CARE with compensation.

Claims for compensation require proof. If it's in your SMR it's proof.

There are eight Priority Groups for health care.

http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/priority_groups.asp

There are NO means tests for compensation. Don't believe me? Call the DAV, VFW or other service group and ask them if there is.

As I said before there's a ton of bad information out there. You're helping to spread it.

Enough. Take this to PM, Cannibul. This is becoming total thread disruption, myself included.

I am done on this thread. I only have so much control.

Cannibul said:

You're confusing HEALTH CARE with compensation.

Claims for compensation require proof. If it's in your SMR it's proof.

There are eight Priority Groups for health care.

http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/priority_groups.asp

There are NO means tests for compensation. Don't believe me? Call the DAV, VFW or other service group and ask them if there is.

As I said before there's a ton of bad information out there. You're helping to spread it.

Click to expand...

Isn't health care compensation?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compensation

If you are talking about monetary compensation then you are correct. I wasn't looking for monetary compensation, I was looking for health care, which I was refused.

Break it down however you want, I didn't qualify like many others who sought health care.

I understand the games the VA plays. Not the most respected gov't organization among vets. The delays and paper work alone are enough to kill a person, and frequently does. Socialized medicine in it's finest form. Zero accountability.

Glad you had a good experience.

withdrawn

Try anti-depressants

I have severe tinnitus. Not just ringing but banging noise. The first time I heard it, I thought some one nearby was nailing siding Anti-depressants reduce the tinnitus to unnoticeable levels. I always notice when I forget to take anti-depressants because my ears start to ring. My experience is not unique; it is reported in the peer-reviewed medical literature. I don't know if all anti-depressants work. Google "anti-depressants, tinnitus".

The only time I shot a firearm was a single round of standard-pressure .38 Special when I forgot to place my plugs back in after a break. That had my ears ringing for about ten minutes afterward.

Other than that, I always wear plugs when I am cutting the grass, shooting, or even walking on the factory floor at work. I'm amazed at the amount of people who don't take precaution, especially at work. The plugs are free there.

Ooooh! Tinnitus! You get used to it, (I have it in both ears for 46 years and counting) but then again you don't. A fan has to run in the bedroom to help with falling asleep. I find sometimes (more than not) it's hard to concentrate on something. The ringing just "takes over". Very frustrating for sure. Young and dumb. In 1970 I bought an Interarms bolt action rifle chambered for .300 Win Mag. Yep, sighted it in with no ear protection. It took a few weeks before my right ear went, then a few more weeks then my left. Not sure why both didn't go at the same time. Live and learn, sometimes the hard way.

Needless to say, for quite a few years now, I wear hearing protection for just about everything involving a louder than normal decibel rating.

My hearing is getting less & less acute, a lifetime of working in shops, garages and job sites with loud engines, trucks & equipment seems to be catching up to me. Shooting may have a bit to do with it, loud music too, but I have no doubt my work environment is the main culprit.