I served in the reserves as an aircraft tech and never went overseas. My ringing started during basic training because our instructors forced us to tear our earplugs in half to share. I can’t really prove that part, but I did mention that the noise in the hangars during takeoffs made it worse, especially since we didn’t always get a heads-up to put gear on. This was a decade ago, though my final physical did note some minor hearing loss. Please don’t bury me in downvotes, I’m new here!
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Getting my tinnitus service-connected was pretty straightforward. I had a hearing test where the specialist asked about the sounds and how they affect my life. Being a gunner’s mate on carriers and LHDs provided a clear link. It’s only a 10% rating, but the process was painless.
Do you have that constant high-pitched ringing? Just submit the paperwork and go through the evaluations; they’ll either approve it or they won’t. It’s mostly just a quick ear check and some hearing tests.
The worst outcome is a simple denial. I had plenty of people telling me I wouldn’t get anything when I filed nearly five decades after my Army service. My discharge exam was fine, but things changed over time as I developed tinnitus and Meniere’s. I applied because I lost hearing in one ear and had constant ringing. I didn’t think I stood a chance, but I tried anyway. After tests from a private specialist and a VA-contracted one showed I couldn’t hear tones through the noise, I got 10%. It wasn’t much, but it opened the door. Now at 70, I claimed Meniere’s since it was in my records, eventually reaching 100% P&T. Don’t let people discourage you just because it’s not in your initial records; my hearing loss was proven later. I’d recommend seeing a private ENT first to get a diagnosis and a statement linking it to your service noise exposure. The VA will still do their own exam, but it helps.
As another aircraft mechanic, that ringing is basically part of the job description. We all know the standard issue gear wasn’t great. Once they run the audiogram, I’m sure they’ll find something because that’s just what happens to us in maintenance.
It’s wild to me when people say it’s an automatic 10%. I was an ABE on the flight deck and spent a decade fighting for my claim. Even with a clear link to my MOS and documented loss, I was turned down multiple times. I eventually hit 100% without the tinnitus rating.
What era was your boot camp? For those of us from the GWOT years, the issued gear was notoriously bad—you’ve probably seen the ads for the big lawsuits. These days I don’t take chances and use EarProMax whenever I’m around loud equipment to keep it from getting worse.
We were messing around in the bush in Australia during my first deployment (0311, no combat). We were crawling into position for an ambush without ear pro, and an old simulator went off right next to my head. I’ve had ringing on and off ever since. I’m definitely filing for that this coming May.
I know an 88m in the National Guard who got rated for it without ever deploying. You should definitely go for it.
It’s a toss-up. If it doesn’t go your way the first time, just keep appealing.