I was in the military from 1980 until 2005, spending a lot of time deployed around loud equipment like generators, various vehicles, and aircraft—I served in three separate Airborne units—plus the usual range time. For some reason, I perform well on standard hearing exams, but in public settings with any level of background noise, I find it impossible to follow conversations. My wife is always asking if I’m paying attention or if I heard her, but the reality is that while I can hear the sound, I can’t decipher the words. We recently attended a comedy show with good seats, yet I missed most of the punchlines because I couldn’t make out what was being said. I could tell people were talking and knew who was speaking, but the actual speech was unintelligible. This happens in restaurants or bars too; I hear the noise of the person’s voice but can’t process the language. Even though it doesn’t seem to register on tests, I’m certain it’s from my time around loud noise. Has anyone else dealt with this? I’m looking to increase my 10% disability rating, but my main goal is getting hearing aids through the VA. I’d appreciate any advice.
You might actually have hearing issues, but the VBA uses a specific legal standard for disability that is often stricter than what a doctor would consider a medical diagnosis. Look up 38 CFR 3.385. Regardless, because your combined rating is already at 10%, you are eligible for free hearing aids from the VA. Go ahead and book an appointment tomorrow.
Certain job codes are flagged for higher hearing loss risk. Have you had an exam at a VA facility? If not, request a referral to an audiologist from your primary doctor there. Explain your concerns, and they will conduct a test. If you already passed a VA exam, you might not meet their criteria, but you could always seek an independent evaluation outside the VA system.
I’m not sure about the specific VA testing protocols since I’m a spouse who wears hearing aids, but I have ‘cookie bite’ hearing loss. I can detect all the frequencies, but speech remains unclear, especially if I’m not looking at the person to lip-read. It might be worth checking if that’s what you have!
What you’re experiencing is quite frequent, and the VA has been aware of this phenomenon for over ten years. Exposure to jet fuel, not just noise, contributes to hearing problems
I’m just curious—could the issue be something other than direct hearing loss? You definitely have symptoms, so if the tests are clear, something else must be the cause. A quick search shows several conditions that mimic these symptoms even with a normal audiogram. My advice is to keep describing exactly what you’re feeling and push them to find a specific diagnosis.
I deal with something very similar. Mental health can sometimes interfere with how the brain processes sound. In my case, hearing aids didn’t fix the processing errors. It’s frustrating, so don’t be too hard on yourself. We can talk more if you want. Often, being able to hear but not comprehend indicates a brain-processing issue rather than an ear issue. This could be Auditory Processing Disorder, Auditory Neuropathy, or even ADHD. It’s vital to consult a specialist for a real diagnosis, as treatments vary from devices to specific therapies.
To be honest, if there are no records of complaints or a diagnosis from your time in service, no current diagnosis, and you’re passing the exams, you won’t be able to prove a hearing loss claim.
I have hearing test records from military facilities dating back to 1991, taken at least once a year. During my first C&P, they gave me 0% for one ear but denied the other, claiming they didn’t look at my service records. I recently had another exam where the audiologist actually reviewed my files, provided a positive nexus, and explained why the first exam was wrong. My service records clearly showed loss in both ears. With 25 years of service, yours likely will too. Usually, anything above 25db is considered loss, but you have to hit specific averages across certain ranges. They also use the Maryland CNC test. It’s a difficult thing to prove.
Given the noisy environments you mentioned, you likely qualify for service-connected hearing loss to obtain hearing aids. You should definitely get an audiology appointment on the calendar.