Jim explains the importance of completing paperwork

Dear Jim,

My father was discharged from the Army in the early 70's, he was given a piece of paper that stated he a hearing loss. He went to the VA in La Jolla 2or3 yrs later and was told learn to read lips.
After I got out of the Navy I was awarded 100% for PTSD, he put in a claim for a hearing loss. Well during his C&P they only did a physical, he was denied for not having a Maryland CNC Exam.
We move to Tampa, FL in mid 2013 and is trying to get it done again & is getting the run around.
How does he get the proper exam's needed?? We both go to the James A. Haley VA.....any help would be greatly appreciated in this matter.

Thanks!

 

Reply:

 

You mention that your father has filed a claim in the past for hearing loss. It seems he was denied because of an inadequate C & P exam. The C & P exam should have included the standardized audiology testing required by VA.

That's an oversight on the part of the VA. Once he received the denial letter he had one year to appeal that denial. If he didn't formally appeal during the one year period after denial, the claim is considered to be permanently adjudicated and it's closed.

It sounds as if he's now using health care services in West Florida. That's fine but he still has to file a formal claim for hearing loss. Talking with health care providers won't do the trick. Until a formal claim is filed, nothing will happen.

Once a formal claim for hearing loss if filed, he should be scheduled for an audiology exam at the VA facility closest to him that conducts these exams. That is all a part of the process after a claim has been filed. He doesn't have to do anything to schedule the exam.

Once the exam is completed, he has nothing else to do other than to wait. It is taking VA 6 to 18 months to process claims. There is no way to speed that up.

This will be a new claim. Please click https://www.vawatchdog.org/how-to-file-a-claim.html

 

To learn more about veterans and hearing loss, please click https://www.vawatchdog.org/hearing-loss---tinnitus.html