Question VA Medical Benefits

[FL-JOE]

For any of you that would have went through basic during the late 60's or early 70's, do you remember being issued any type of hearing protection while on the range or during live fire exercises? I certainly don't, nor were any offered to me during my whole time (70-73).

 

[STANDERSON]

I worked thru the VFW service rep and they were more than helpful in getting my claim filed, and approved.

 

[FL-JOE]

We were delayed in heading back toward our Florida winter site, but I'm hoping to get into a VA clinic for my ID card and first appointment sometime toward the middle of October. Even though I'm not sure I will need hearing aids I will ask for tests. I probably also need to switch my Legion membership to a local Florida one instead of keeping it where I used to live.

 

[BGMAC]

We were delayed in heading back toward our Florida winter site, but I'm hoping to get into a VA clinic for my ID card and first appointment sometime toward the middle of October. Even though I'm not sure I will need hearing aids I will ask for tests. I probably also need to switch my Legion membership to a local Florida one instead of keeping it where I used to live.

If you do need hearing aid, Costco has testing sites and great deal on the hearing aids. I’ve taken my mother there several times with positive results. Many have bluetooth technology where you can connect to your phone,tv, etc.

 

[FL-JOE]

If you do need hearing aid, Costco has testing sites and great deal on the hearing aids. I’ve taken my mother there several times with positive results. Many have bluetooth technology where you can connect to your phone,tv, etc.

Thanks BGMAC, my 92 year old mother used Sams Club a couple years ago for a really nice set. My sis has taken her back a couple times for adjustments and there was zero charged. I wondered about Costco since that is where we maintain a membership.

 

[STANDERSON]

I had a hearing test at the local V.A. I was then fitted and received my hearing aids in about 3 weeks. I can go back every 2/3 years and get a new set.

 

[FL-JOE]

In the last few months I have received my VA healthcare card and completed my initial appointment. They scheduled me for my hearing test but they are so backed up it isn't until March, 2022.

 

[Fweezal]

I had lunch with an old buddy from my working days this week. He served 3 years in the Army back in the late 60's. He was not a VN vet nor did he have any type of disability from his service. His annual income is probably between 90,000 and 110,000 currently as a retiree. He showed me his VA medical card he has had since the early 2000's. He recently received a new pair of glasses for $50 from the VA, he gets all his scripts free, plus his hearing aids last year were almost free.

What gives? I thought you could only get medical benefits from the VA if you were on disability or your income was below a certain level?

Apparently, he knows how to work the system. Part of that "working" is not telling the truth. OR, he may not have been making that kind of money in the early 2000s and DID qualify. Once you're in, you're in for life.

 

[lemondrop9344]

Vietnam vet '65 - '68. In many states, the county in which you live have organizations within the county government structure to assist veterans at no charge. I found them to be very helpful. However, my experience with the administrative staff at the VA suggests they are models of inefficiency & very adept at telling you why they can't help you.
Just obtaining a Veteran's ID card was an exercise exponentially more frustrating than dealing with the state DMV. Too make matters worse, military records for many veterans were destroyed in a fire at Ft. Harrison in Indiana several years ago. In my case, several injuries incurred while on active duty (non-combat related) were not reflected on my medical record.
It takes persistence & filling out the correct forms to receive the benefits to which, you as a veteran, are entitled to, To the best of my knowledge, there are no limitations on your income restricting benefits to which you are entitled. The key being 'entitled'.
VA benefits for service members | Veterans Affairs This link would be a good place to start if you are a veteran to determine what benefits are available for veterans.

 

[FL-JOE]

Here is some facts to consider. It is estimated that around 9.7% of our generation served in VM. There would be another 25% to 40% who ran around protesting the war. Most VN vets are deceased with still over 500 dying each day. If a VN vet who qualifies gets a few benefits then I don't care if his income is $15,000 a year or $200,000 a year. I assure you the vet with the larger income pays co-pays and other costs for his coverage.

 

[91CavGT]

I was in for a sort time (11/93 till 7/95) and got discharged because of my left foot(2 sprained ankles, case of Achilles tendinitis, and a pinched nerve). However, because I was in the Army Reserves, I didn’t have enough active duty time to get a medical discharge. So my discharge was just a generic discharge.

10 years after I got discharged I started having a lot of problems that lead to 5 surgeries on my left foot. Filled out disability paperwork with the VA and was denied. Went to DAV to contest it and was denied again.

I have not nor do I expect full medical benefits, but I did get discharged due to injuries sustained while serving that lead to major surgeries. A little help would have been nice but realistically I don’t foresee getting anything. Oh, and they can’t find my records indicating any injuries. Actually, I’ve requested all of my records 3 times and have never received anything except my entry paperwork and discharge paper(Army reservists don’t get a DD214).

 

[Fweezal]

I was in for a sort time (11/93 till 7/95) and got discharged because of my left foot(2 sprained ankles, case of Achilles tendinitis, and a pinched nerve). However, because I was in the Army Reserves, I didn’t have enough active duty time to get a medical discharge. So my discharge was just a generic discharge.

10 years after I got discharged I started having a lot of problems that lead to 5 surgeries on my left foot. Filled out disability paperwork with the VA and was denied. Went to DAV to contest it and was denied again.

I have not nor do I expect full medical benefits, but I did get discharged due to injuries sustained while serving that lead to major surgeries. A little help would have been nice but realistically I don’t foresee getting anything. Oh, and they can’t find my records indicating any injuries. Actually, I’ve requested all of my records 3 times and have never received anything except my entry paperwork and discharge paper(Army reservists don’t get a DD214).

I served 6 years in the Army Guard and got a DD214 upon discharge. But, maybe your case is different. Have you tried getting your congressman/senator involved. Sometimes they ARE good for something.

 

[lemondrop9344]

I should have clarified my earlier post with regards to income & VA benefits. I was thinking in terms of a monthly payment due to a service connected disability benefit payment as opposed to ongoing VA Health Care benefit. I have a service connected disability & at no time did my existing income factor into the decision.

Health Care from the VA most likely has different criteria than a service connected disability. Navigating the myriad 'stuff' for benefits of any kind at the VA can be daunting. This is a 'cut & paste' which discusses eligibility for VA health care.

 

[STANDERSON]

The V.A. Mission Act helped get more Vets health care. We used the local Air Force Base for our health care for 20 years after I retired from Uncle Sams Canoe Club (Navy). They seem to be slowly farming us old farts to civilian doctors so we are transitioning to the V.A. They are looking especially for female veterans. When my wife enrolled, she got an appointment that day.

Interesting thing was the Active Duty Cardiologist she was seeing on base also had an off duty job at a local heart doctors office to keep his credentials current. They sent my wife off base and you know who she saw? Yep. Same guy she was seeing on base.

Work with a local Veterans Service Worker. Either County or VFW or American Legion, etc to get things set up. The answer will always be "No" if you don't at least try. I was 20% for 20 years. I contacted the VFW service worker and she walked me thru the process of getting reevaluated. With her help, I am now 50% which means I get concurrent payments from the V.A. and my military retirement.

We have a child on active duty and their back has bothered them since basic training. I have told him, repeatedly, to get it documented in their health record so in the future, it will be there in case they need to prove it was service related.

You owe it to yourself. If I can help in any way, send me a message.

 

[lemondrop9344]

By all means........... get it documented.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

For any of you that would have went through basic during the late 60's or early 70's, do you remember being issued any type of hearing protection while on the range or during live fire exercises? I certainly don't, nor were any offered to me during my whole time (70-73).

Went through Basic in 1971 and we were issued ear plugs. Then about week 3 or so the Drill Sargeants said to keep them in our pockets because we won't be using them if we're out on a patrol and make contact with the enemy. After Basic I went through AIT and got trained as an 11C - mortarman. After that it was 3 weeks at Jump School, then assigned to the 82nd Airborne, where I became an M60 machine gunner. Between training with the mortars, and carrying, and using my M60 (loved that pig!), and putting up with the noise inside and around the planes when we were jumping my hearing took a heck of a beating. Now, 50 years later, I'm classed as service-connected 50% disabled for tinnitus and severe hearing loss. VA gives me a new set of hearing aids every 3 years.

 

[FL-JOE]

My 30 year old foreign primary VA Doc didn't seem interested in hearing about any hearing loss and why. She just told me how to make the next appointment for the VA hearing testing. I'll wait and see how that goes.

What I recall in 1970 (basic) was that the DIs were not all that familiar with the new M-16 for training. They didn't issue any hearing protection but told us to use cigarette butts or empty brass for hearing protection. I am left handed so I was always too busy trying to keep the hot brass from flying out and burning my neck! Finally they had all the lefties tie wool scarfs around our necks on the range.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

For decades I listened to people who said that trying to get a disability claim approved without a ton of documentation was pretty much impossible. I tried contacting my local American Legion folks to no avail. The a few years ago I saw a posting on facebook from a company who's sole mission was getting claims approved. From them I found out that it was a slam dunk to get approved at 10% for tinnitus depending on your military job. Took about 6 weeks from when I sent in the first forms to when I started getting checks. Then we submitted a second claim, for hearing loss. Again it was approved quickly, and I went up to 30%. Finally they suggested a claim for "lifestyle impact" due to the hearing loss - now I'm at 50% service-connected. This company did most of the work for no up-front fee, and when each claim was approved they charged a fee that was 5X whatever the compensation increase amounted to. I was successful, even though the only military records I had related to hearing were the records from my induction physical.

I don't know if I'm allowed to mention the company name or website here but I can certainly forward it to anybody if interested. I'm not affiliated with them other than as a satisfied customer.

 

[Neal]

I don't know if I'm allowed to mention the company name or website here

I have no problems with you sharing the info, not against any rules here.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

Thanks, Neal!

For those interested, the company I referred to in the above message is Trajector Medical - great folks to work with!