SERVING
Those That
SERVED
Questions & Answers
INSTRUCTIONS: Please read each question carefully. If you are able to answer question appropriately use the form below the question to respond. Your name will not appear on the public answer page. Only your initials and date of your response will be visible.
Q252: I was a reactor power plant electrician in the Navy for 6 years from 1982 to 1988. I was diagnosed with tinnitus early on in my civilian career and it has gotten worse as I have gotten older. Could this have been from the Navy? And is it too late to do a claim? I do know I have back and feet issues. Popped my back out pulling shire power cables and now I have a lot of lower back issues. My feet are killing me every day and I know it was from wearing those no arch boondocker boots. Just asking because I see all these kids getting out now and get some kind of disability for the same thing. All I got was spit on back in the 80's since it was not cool to be in the military.
If you have a question about benefits, compensation, pension or VA related issues please submit here.
Use Form Below To Respond
A1: Tinnitus is the easiest. Take a hearing test and file your claim. My back problem from the Navy is way worse and they've tuned me down every time. (DD) 9/24/19
A2: You do sound like a whiner. You can always make a claim but if you do not have documentation then it will not be easy. You say you popped your back out on active duty then there should be a medical consult about that to claim back injury. You say you were diagnosed with tinnitus at your civilian job so it seems the military has nothing to do with it. Most people get this as they age anyway but if you did not work on a shooting range or in or near helicopters or aircraft or any loud place it will be hard to win a claim for this. In years of doing my own VA claim for compensation I have learned the VA will search on line for anything you say and you wrote and you wrote that your tinnitus was diagnosed early on in your civilian job. Take care what you say or write in public. I suggest you go see someone at the DAV, American Legion, VFW or some other agency to help you in your questions and filing any claims.
Back and feet issues are again part of the aging process. We wear out. Do you have documentation you had or developed flat feet or other feet issues while on active duty? I do find it hard to believe anyone spit on you in the 1980s as the general climate was fairly positive. It was not the Vietnam Era which I was in and no one said anything negative to me then. Your comment about that is a distraction to solving any rightful claim for compensation. Also there is no relationship of kids getting this or that compensation from the VA to you getting anything. Again it makes you look like a whiner. If you have a just health issue due to military service then claim it but get help directly from a service officer (DAV, American Legion, VFW, etc.). It will not be easy especially how you portrayed your issues in this venue. Good Luck. (JD) 9/29/19