How to file a VA disability claim for hearing loss

According to the VA, over 2.7 million veterans receive disability compensation for hearing impairments at the moment. However, the number may be even higher. If you are a veteran who developed a hearing problem as a consequence of exposure to loud noises while serving, you are eligible for disability compensation from the VA. Furthermore, if you served between 2003 and 2015 and were provided with the defective 3M Combat Arms earplugs, you can also file a claim with the responsible company, which will also result in financial compensation. Nevertheless, because the process of filing a claim is very complex, the assistance of a lawyer who specializes in this area of practice is essential.

How to file a claim with 3M and the VA for hearing loss

To file a claim with 3M or with the VA, you will have to send your attorney your military and medical records, documents that will stand as evidence to support your case. Nevertheless, because solid proof is necessary to ensure the favorable outcome of your claim, the legal experts your attorney collaborates with will conduct in-depth research to discover additional evidence for your claim. This is only one of the benefits of working with a law firm. Furthermore, all the paperwork involved will be efficiently handled by your attorney and their legal team on your behalf, so that your involvement in the process will be minimal. If you intend to seek compensation from 3M and from the VA, you must have one of the following diagnoses:

• tinnitus
• partial hearing loss
• permanent hearing loss
• sensorineural hearing loss
• conductive hearing loss
• mixed hearing loss

How is hearing loss measured?

Your hearing loss can also be measured by the severity it has, as follows:

• mild hearing loss: if you have mild hearing loss, you will hear some speech sounds, but will have trouble making out soft sounds
• moderate hearing loss: people who have moderate hearing loss will struggle to understand what others are saying at a normal level
• severe hearing loss: if you have severe hearing loss, you will hear little to no speech sounds when talking to another person
• profound hearing loss: people with profound hearing loss will have trouble hearing even loud sounds

The VA will assign you a disability percentage between 10% and 30%, depending on how severe your hearing loss is. Consequently, you will receive monthly compensation ranging between $142.29 and $435.69. If you were injured by the defective 3M Combat Arms earplugs, we strongly encourage you to file a claim with the company as well, a process with which a lawyer can also help you with, as it is even more complex than filing a claim with the VA.

We will help you file a claim with the VA if you are a veteran who struggles with hearing loss

With over 25 years of experience in providing quality assistance to veterans injured during or after their military service, our attorneys are ready to help you file a claim with the VA, as well as with 3M, if you struggle with hearing loss as a result of exposure to loud noises while on duty.

After the initial discussion, during which you will need to thoroughly explain your situation to our legal team, our attorneys will only request your military records, which you must retrieve, and your medical records so that they can have a starting point in reviewing your case. Your involvement in the process will be minimal.

Call 205.328.9200 Claim Evaluation