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I was in Germany in 1978, as a "Duece and a half" motor transport operator. 3 months in, we received brand new Trucks with turbo chargers. No ear protection was provided, nor was any information about the risk to " not" wearing ear protection when operating a vehicle with a turbocharger. So essentially, it was like driving a truck with a loud whistle blowing in my left ear for 30 months. Today I can barely hear out of my left ear, and it has caused things like vertigo, anxiety, stress. I cant use 2 phones at a time (which I use being in telecommunications) headaches, dizziness, confusion, not to mention hard to hear people speak. Even when my baby was born, I was forced to sleep on my right side only in order to hear my baby crying in the middle of the night. I have had several hearing exams, and the only prescribed a hearing aid, which I found out, will only amplify the the things I need to hear, resulting in further hearing loss and even more damage to my hearing. I would like to set up for some kind of compensation as a result of negligence on behalf of the military. Any advise would be well received, Thank you.
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 4
When I was Honorably discharged in 1981, the loss of hearing was negligible, its over time that the loss of hearing got worse, but the damage was already done.
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Have you filed a claim yet? Does your military medical records show a service connection to the disability?
Have you had a full battery of hearing tests? Is it hearing loss or it is tinnitus? If your job exposed you to conditions that resulted in damage to your hearing it is a slam dunk but the onus will be on you to prove that connection.
You can submit a claim or work with an advocate to submit a claim
Have you had a full battery of hearing tests? Is it hearing loss or it is tinnitus? If your job exposed you to conditions that resulted in damage to your hearing it is a slam dunk but the onus will be on you to prove that connection.
You can submit a claim or work with an advocate to submit a claim
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SPC Rob Julian
I have had multiple hearing tests, and the loos of hearing from my right ear was caused by the noise emitted from the exhaust pipe at the right window level. I can only explain the conditions of the time that nothing was provided, nor, taught about using earplugs or muffs while driving the deuce and a half with a turbocharger. Had anyone told us that we could lose our hearing if we did not use protection, I would have done so.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
SPC Rob Julian - I'm not refuting your injury or cause but it all relies on your ability to connect it to your service. The VA has become pretty good at connecting specific job fields to specific injuries that are common in that field. For example hearing loss for Machine Gunners, Artillery's, Engine mechanics and things like that. So the job field may support the claim but it is even better if you have something from your medical records validating it. But yes, you can certainly submit a claim for it. If you aren't sure you could always use a Veteran Service Officer to assist you.
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