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Veterans Reporting Hearing Loss More Frequently

Before and during combat deployments, soldiers are told to wear their military issued ear protection. The ear protection, designed to prevent damage from close range loud noises, can also prevent soldiers from hearing gunfire in the distance. This means they are unable to recognize the type of weapon that was fired and from which direction it was fired. The end result is soldiers would rather have "situational awareness" and take their chances with the loud noises, according to an article on CNJ Online.

Given the circumstances in which soldiers operate, it is no surprise that protecting long-term hearing loss isn't the top concern. Further, the military-issued ear protection may be of little help in situations where soldiers are in close range of roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Perhaps it will come as no surprise that veterans are reporting hearing loss as a significant post-service issue. "Most hearing experts" agree the military has not done enough to protect the soldiers from loud noises and hearing loss.

In everyday combat situations, soldiers may be exposed to small arms fire, which is loud in itself, to standing on a flight line. Everything on that scale of exposure is very detrimental to a soldiers' hearing, as is shown by how much the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) spends in disability for soldiers with hearing loss.

In 2010, the VA paid 15% more in disability payments for "impaired auditory systems" than it did the previous year, which is significant for two reasons. First, there was no other service-related condition with a larger increase. Second, of all the veterans seeking disability compensation for hearing loss, 54% were younger than 55.

Tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears, is the most common service-related disability, affecting 745,000 veterans. In 2010, 92,300 new cases developed. There are currently 672,000 veterans who are being compensated for hearing loss.

If you are a disabled veteran who has suffered hearing loss and you have been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.