ATTN: Vietnam War Veterans.

[Mick Shu]

how many of you are now enrolled in the VA health System and have taken advantage of receiving hearing aids basically for free from them?

it took me about 10 minutes to complete the paperwork at my local Veterans Service Center and a few weeks later received a call from my local clinic to schedule my first primary care visit and get my VA ID card. He then scheduled me for a hearing exam up at the hospital and before I left they had ordered me top of the line aids which didn't work for me and now I have top of the line Wi's.

I not talking about winning a disability claim but simply getting into the health care system.

I would like to hear how difficult or easy your experience was.

[Mick Shu]

I think you misunderstand the process.. I'm not going to go through it again. evidently you enjoy being the victim. good luck

[Mick Shu]

glad to hear things are finally moving along.. if they want to issue you a VA ID and you already have an appt with a Doc scheduled it's sounds like you are on your way. No way would they have a Doc deal with administrative stuff like telling you sorry or would they be issuing you an ID. Please keep us posted on how thing progress. Sorry if I wizzed you off but maybe old slick got you mad enough to end up with a pretty good deal. Remember the Doc's at the VA clinic are mostly civilian employees. Before seeing the Doc a nurse is going to ask you a long list of questions. Particularly the first visit. They do the b/p and all that stuff. Make a list of want you want to talk to the Doc about The nurse will generally ask you that. They will also want you to bring any meds you are taking in their original bottles. I'm sure you will get a sheet in the mail telling you all this. The VA loves to send mail.

[Mick Shu]

if you haven't been there since '89 you are going to find a whole new attitude..

I assuming you are not rated disabled by the VA. Have your DAV guy get a claim filed. It will take forever to work it way through but once awarded you will get paid from the day you filed the claim.

[Mick Shu]

yes.. have the DAV file the paperwork. you can collect both.

[Mick Shu]

unless that is a much bigger operation you are going to out there than around here.. getting a primary care appt here you are looking at mid Feb and to get an audiology appt you are looking at a min of 3 months. sounds like someone is pulling some strings for you. unless things are different out there they send you a monthly bill for services they don't even have any way to accept payment at the clinic/hosp if you wanted to pay in person. I believe the $150 (i may be wrong on this one) is combined total for specialist. So, if they bounce you around from one to another after 3 bounces you are good for the year.

[Mick Shu]

certain problems that are known to be caused by agent orange will automatically get you a 80% rating. why would you refuse compensation? anyhow, remember don't get mad get even.. file claims and get as much as you can from them you earned it. also, treat the audi like a friend but speak up. if the first brand you try aren't to your liking ask firmly by nicely to try different ones. it doesn't cost them anything but another appt. also, once you decide on a brand/model have them get you all the accessories. New and small is good.. I live 1/2 between a large VA hosp (all new) and a small clinic just opened. after a couple of trips everyone knows you and much less hurry up and wait.

[TambourineMan]

I served with a helicopter combat unit in Vietnam and before that with a tank unit so I have significant exposure to gun/tank fire. I think I complained abut hearing loss when I got out, but because it seemed mild at the time I think i was just so happy to be out that I did not follow through with it. Since then I have had good medical benefits through employer sponsored plans so I have never even thought of the VA health system or whether i was eligible. I think I share lucynethel's aversion to dealing with bureaucracies unless absolutely necessary.

So before I go spinning a lot of wheels can anyone tell me what brand/model hearing aids you can get? Is it more or less one size fits all like when I was in the Army?

[Mick Shu]

if you don't want to deal with the VA.. don't. if you have good health care then it probably isn't absolutely required that you do. there really aren't any black helicopters flying around the VA centers following you home. almost all the information you are looking for is available online. most has already been answered in this post or the other post in digital hearing aids by lucynethel1998.

Originally Posted by TambourineMan

So before I go spinning a lot of wheels can anyone tell me what brand/model hearing aids you can get? Is it more or less one size fits all like when I was in the Army?

The VA's near me do mostly Phonak hearing aids. They are the same ones (as far as I know) that you get private sector. The patient does get a say in the style...they are the ones that have to wear it after all.