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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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The VA audiology Appointment in San Francisco was awesome. The appointment was scheduled for 2:00pm, and they were exactly on time. The doctor spent over an hour with me, asking lots of questions regarding my health and hearing history, and performing a number of tests. It probably helped that I handed her a bulleted printout with everything I thought they might want to know.
When finished, she looked at the fitting that I did based on Target audiogram direct, compared to what she measured, and made some very good suggestions. I then asked my big question “do I qualify for hearing aids from the VA,” the answer was yes. I then asked if upgrading from my Phonak bolero Marvel 90 aids would offer a big improvement, and her answer was no.
My next question was now that I am in the system, if my present hearing aids fail, or my hearing deteriorates further, what will I need to do to get new ones from the VA. The answer is if it’s over 6 months from the last visit, just make a new appointment, we will test you again, and issue new hearing aids. She also asked me to promise not to do my own programming on them😃
Anyway it was a great experience, and I will continue using the Phonak Bolero M90 PR hearing aids I already own, and I just completed a new fitting based on the new audiogram she gave me which was quite different from the one I created previously using the Target software. Before I left she saved the fitting from the used aids I had purchased off ebay to have in their system.
In about 10 days I have my first physical at the VA here in Oakland, and if it’s anything like my experience in San Francisco, I will be beyond pleased. It turned out that after having my initial appointment in San Francisco, the same audiologist does a follow up clinic every Friday in Oakland only a few miles from my home.
All I can say is I am so happy to have run across this thread, and my only regret is not knowing about these benefits earlier in my life.
If you qualify for the VA, do it all!
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After the great experience at VA Audiology, I was looking forward to my first physical exam this morning, which turned out to be another positive experience.
Having previously presented my Kaiser Permanente health card at the Audiology Appointment, they already had it in their system. When I went in for my physical examination this morning my new doctor was able to pull up my previous medical history which saved a lot of time. He also asked if I planned to keep Kaiser as my primary health provider, and keep the VA as a backup. He said this arrangement was common, because if my Medicare benefits through Kaiser should run out, the VA can step in and cover me.
I was very impressed with the professional service I received, and would recommend that anyone who qualifies for VA health care should take advantage of it regardless of any other health coverage you might already have.
The VA allows their doctors to spend twice as much time with patients than most other medical facilities.
In summary, it was a great visit, and they will send me a reminder to schedule another exam in a year to keep me active in their system. I wish I had known about this years ago.
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Deleted. Already covered.
You can have the best of both worlds. Have the VA send community care letters to the providers you already see. They will pay for it. It will still go to your private insurance, but you will not be responsible for any of what you would normally pay out of pocket.
As an example, I have an orthopedic issue, I’ve already seen a surgeon and been treated successfully before. Talked about the problem with my VA primary care doctor. She got me to agree to seeing a VA surgeon. “OK” I said. When the scheduler called, she said I could have an appt in November with them or go to community care… So there you go. I can probably get into my regular surgeon in about a month.
WH
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I just wanted to stop by and give a quick update. After 9 months, my claim was approved yesterday. Plan to stop by the medical center Friday to get myself signed up for care and make my first audiology appointment. Also submitted a secondary claim for tinnitus ( I didn’t even know what this was when I first submitted). The process wasn’'t the quickest, but I knew that going in. Well worth the wait. Thanks all for your guidance!
Now to determine which aids to go with. Stick with Phonak Life, which has been good to me or try a different brand? Stick with rechargable or try replacable battery (bye Phonak). Decisions to come.
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If you’re happy with the Phonak sound, it may be challenging to get used to a different mfg.
The VA audis are pretty good at recommending the best make & model for you based on your test results, and your goals.
As you know, they all use the top tech of each, and offer all accessories at no extra charge.
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