The key I was told is never give up, keep trying. I know for me the key was I was between jobs and I needed medication that I didn’t have the money or the insurance to cover. The VA was great in helping me get my medication, and in the process of a full physical I was taken to audiology for a hearing test. My hearing loss was noted, I already knew I had hearing issues, after the hearing test I was told to see a benefits agent to do the paperwork for my hearing. It took almost 18 months of back and forth before I got my hearing aids. I was rated as disabled 0% which meant my aids didn’t cost me anything but all of my other services required copays. I was happy with getting the hearing aids as I was able to then do my chosen job again. As my hearing loss progressed I started getting higher disability rates and benefits, but I was continually reopening claims for my hearing loss. The process has gotten much easier of the 18 or so years I have been in the VA system.
I am a veteran (drafted in 1970) with no military related disabilities, no overseas service. I have severe hearing loss related to genetics. I had a hearing test at the VA about five years ago and I qualified for HAs. Wearing Phonak P90R from the VA now. If I had known about the VA’s HA program sooner, I would have qualified sooner.
Only paperwork involved seemed to be my DD214 and some standard home/contact info. That seems to be much less paperwork than qualifying through a military disability.
You are right, my mistake was waiting so long to get registered with the VA I had hearing loss decades before I got aids.
Veterans that were in RVN automatically qualified for healthcare.
If you are treated at 90% then you are eligible for full VA medical care.
All 50% or greater disability rated get 100% medical care from VA.
I am more than 50 miles from main VA facility so I get and use CCN(community care network). If your VA PSP wants you to go to a specialist just tell him you want to go for local community care. All cost are paid by VA through the CCN.
This is interesting stuff!
I am now in my mid 80’s, and have been buying used hearing aids and doing my own programming to save on the exorbitant cost. Until now it never occurred to me that I might be able to get the VA to supply them.
My service was Army National Guard in the 50s, activated for the Berlin crisis in 61, and discharged in 62. In those days hearing protection while firing small arms or around artillery was almost non-existent. Working range communication at Ft. Benning didn’t help my hearing much either.
I really searched hard for my DD214 to start the process, but it’s long gone, and needing a replacement found the eVetrecs website, which has to be one of the easiest most user friendly portals I have ever encountered. Other organizations could learn a lot from this website.
Filled out the online request last Sunday, and received an instant email confirmation. My request was processed on Wednesday, and in the mail on Thursday. What wonderful service!
As soon as I have my DD214 in hand, I will make an appointment at the local VA to get started.
I’m excited!
You might want to contact your county Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to see what other benefits you may be eligible for.
Lots of info posted in this thread. Some applies today, some doesn’t. If available, get a VSO to help. I retired in 1981 with 21years of Naval Aviation service. Last year, after a noticeable loss of hearing, I applied, for the first time, for VA health care, thinking I would get Hearing Aids. I was declined entry to the health care system based on income. I then obtained the assistance of a VSO and applied for disability based on service connected hearing loss and service connected tinnitus. Service connected is the key, you must be able to provide evidence of service that could have reasonably contributed to your hearing loss. In my case, after an audio exam and interview, I was declared 10% disabled for tinnitus and 0% disabled for hearing loss, more likely than not, stemming from my time as a Catapult Officer. After being declared disabled, I was admitted to the VA Health Care System and hearing aids and accessories have been provided without cost. This process took about 6 months and I found the VSO assistance especially helpful. My VSO was from the VFW, but the local Veteran’s Assistance Program for which he works is administered by the county (Florida). Good luck.
My DD214 arrived yesterday, so I went online to fill out the application, and mailed a copy of the DD214 to the benifits center in Atlanta to backup my application.
While filling out the online form, a number of questions came up requiring calls to the VA, who came on the line immediately to help me. It appears that many of the horror stories of the past regarding the VA have been fixed. I have no idea how this will all turn out, but so far I am feeling much better about how the funds from my taxes allocated to the VA are being used.
Great news!
I just received the call welcoming me the the VA health system. My next step is to set up my first physical examination and obtain a VA identity card.
I’m stoked!
You can ask for an appt with audiology without having to go through primary care. Things work so slow as it is,don’t wait.
WH
Hope so, maybe varies by clinic. To get a hearing test, I had to be referred by primary care. That was some time back. I have had excellent service from the VA health system.
Unless there has been a recent change your primary care needs to refer you to audiology. After you first visit with them then you can book directly.
My first appointment after comp & pen was with audiology in August 2021. I was told going to primary care was recommended at my leisure but not necessary at all. I also went to optometry without a primary care referral and got a letter for community care last fall. I’ve since had referrals for other things. But I think audiology and optometry are different.
WH
I plan to start making appointments on Monday.
I have never had to have a re&erral to use audiology. My first time I just picked up the phone an told them I needed a hearing test. Appt was set. But, it’s a typical government organization so procedures can change daily.
Like others, in October 2022, as soon as I had been notified of my acceptance into the Health Care System, I called the Audiology Department directly for an appointment. No referral was necessary. Since then, I received my hearing aids and have had a couple of follow-up appointments without any referrals. In fact, I don’t have a VA primary nor have I seen anyone outside of the Audiology Department, save to have an ID card made.
That’s my plan, get my hearing checked, obtain a VA ID card, and I do want to see a primary care physician to have a baseline record on file in case I should need them in the future.
I plan to continue using Kaiser Permanente who administers my Medicare, and have the VA in my pocket just in case.
My local VA health center is only a few miles from my home. I could almost walk there.
May I recommend you do seek out a VA Primary Physician. It’s easy - just ask and one will be assigned. Bring a copy of your current medical records and see what the VA might offer.
Usually, the VA sees you once a year for a followup exam…that’s it.
I found the VA offers flu, Shingle, and COVID-19 plus many more vaccinations, often allowing walk-in appointments.
I have a superb concierge Physician, yet my VA Dr. noticed numerous issues on our first meeting.
I avoided VA Primary Care for 50 years because I thought it was for the people who had lost limbs, or had other service connected issues far worse than mine, but I was wrong.
My Army service gives me the right to receive medical oversight, but it also allows your local VA region to receive a stipend for each new person it serves, so in effect you’re helping ALL Veterans when you use a VA primary Physician if only once a year.
Good Luck!
I have it all handled.
Scheduled appointments for both Audiology, and a physical exam. Also took photos and ordered a VA health Id card online, which should be here in about 10 days.
The last thing is to reserve a burial plot as a veterans cemetery.