Claiming against the RAF for hearing loss.

[norfolkred1]

Had my hearing test a few weeks ago. The Doctor said that he personally felt I had a serious hearing loss and he could not see any reason why I should not get any further pension. I recieved a leter a week ago telling me they are processing as quick as possible, so at the moment things are looking up but will not hold my breath, just yet.

He told me that he sees about three to five servicemen a week, must be something in it

 

[norfolkred1]

Well shock horror just got back from Twickers to find a letter from the Vets agency agreeing with my test results and informing me that a cheque for back pension of £900+ pounds will be put in my bank and £30+ a week for my hearing loss. I hope you all have a similar happy ending

 

[Phantom Sumpy]

Discovered the site by accident, but really interested in this topic. I too have the telly too loud, can't converse in a pub or crowded environment, and tinnitus? that is approaching the madness stage. Didn't manage to get to know the hearing results in my day only that there were quite a few apparent beeps when I didn't hear anything and had not pressed the button.

I am convinced the problem began in 1969 while sitting underneath Phantoms at Leuchars to set up engines because the engine bay did not have any uninstalled test facility, and it was the only way it could be done. 12 inches from the engine at max mil, and the odd slip into reheat meant hanging on so that one did not bounce across the concrete far less worry about hearing. We wore headsets to communicate with the cockpit, but because the noise in the cockpit from us on the floor was so loud!!!! we had to just blip the mic switch to let the cockpit know we were finished. The noise was painful to say the least, and in those days a bit of joke with the other trades. The environment was apparently dodgy, because after a couple of years we were limited to a maximium of only 5 minutes a day due to a study that had found that above 70% rpm there was a danger of the chest wall tissue collapsing. Hopefully I will be able to dig this info up again as I think the ear tissue(not the toilet type inserted to block the noise) may have suffered as much. Would be grateful if any other phantom sumpies have had similar problems and any success with the system.

 

[Rambling Sid]

Interesting thread, I too have difficulties in crowded spaces with noise. I can't claim that I ever worked on aircraft, I spent my entire service career working Commcens. I spent a lot of time in the radio rooms, they insisted that you wore your headsets so the ear pieces completely covered the ear, instead of the more comfortable position of either in front of the ear or on the temple. Also reading near the front of the thread I fired .303's, Brens and SLR, all without hearing protection. It was something that wasn't even though of in those days, you were lucky if you saw someone on the line wearing them.

 

[Blue Van Man]

Hi all.

I have recently found my hearing problem getting worse ven with my hearing aid in. I went to see the specialist in Gosport which confirmed that my left side hearing is all but completely buggered!! The tinitus is still driving me absolutely hat-stand but with the help of the audiologists and a kind Sgt in the pharmacy, I have been issued a sound pillow and sound generator to aid sleep...if you suffer with tinitus and ,like me have trouble sleeping with the constant racket then get one of these...the RAF supply them and they really work.

Anyway, I have been confirmed a 'cloth eared Techy ' for 6 years and only now have they decided to downgrade me!! I am not too happy about the downgrading as he affects my career masively...I can not work in environments over noise level 1..thats an average weekly exposure of 80db's ( traffic passing by on the road) now as a techie, albeit currently an instructor, this new limitation buggers me right up and my hopes of returning to a squadron at some time soon..well..they are buggered too!!

What worries me now is future employment. I am obviously going to be limited to occupations for the rest of my days and, although I do not subscribe to this new age litigation way of thinking, I want the *******s to pay!!

Does anyone think sueing the RAF now whilst still serving is an option and would they have grounds to kick me out if I were successful in relieving them of some cash...I am off to the med board soon and will no doubt be told I am permanently downgraded..I am a SNCO and on for LOS 30...funny old thing I got signed on for LOS 30 3 years ago and yet I failed my hearing part of the medical!!

 

[needsabiggerfuse]

The letter from the Service Personnel & Veterans Agency arrived yesterday.

'We are sorry to inform you ... not entitled ...'

However, they then state:

'We have accepted the following diagnosed condition as being caused by your service.

BILATERAL NOISE INDUCED SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS

But we cannot pay you for this condition ...', etc, etc.

I think I'll pass on the letter to the RBL and see what they say, i.e. is it worth appealing.

Well, I did appeal and today I got a large envelope through the letterbox. Everything is there, medical records wise. I can see my awful adolescent signature from almost 40 years ago. DT_Xtremez_42: My file has even been through the Secretary of State's in-tray. Anyway, I now await the outcome of the Tribunal. I'll keep you all posted; this could run for a while yet.

 

[needsabiggerfuse]

Well, I did appeal and today I got a large envelope through the letterbox. Everything is there, medical records wise. I can see my awful adolescent signature from almost 40 years ago. DT_Xtremez_42: My file has even been through the Secretary of State's in-tray. Anyway, I now await the outcome of the Tribunal. I'll keep you all posted; this could run for a while yet.

Onwards, ever onwards. Another big envelope today, '... we have recieved from the Secretary of State the papers relating ...'.

Return form to find out when/where the Tribunal will be held. I'll be speaking to the RBL tomorrow.

 

[needsabiggerfuse]

Another envelope and two phone calls, all on the same day. A letter from the Service Personnel & Veterans Agency, a phone call from the Tribunals Service and the other from the Royal British Legion. It's getting serious boys.

 

[eric the red]

I just don't understand this hearing test business. I worked 19 years on Phantoms, mostly ML1, 3 years on Harriers and then had a rest on project work. Many hearing tests in that time with very mixed results and comments like "Oh its not that bad for someone working on jet aircraft..." In the last 3 tests I have been told there is nothing wrong with my hearing despite having the same difficulties (TV too loud, unable to understand conversation in any crowded enviroment, occasional tinitus etc). I have also recently had a med board where the doc tells me my hearing is better than his which is not bad considering the 20 year age difference and the fact he has never been near fighter aircraft. For me its all a farce and I have my doubts about how qualified our medical staff are or how relevant these tests are when assessing peoples hearing.

 

[needsabiggerfuse]

So, the current legislation got me. If the hearing loss at 1, 2 & 3kHz is less than 20%, tinnitus is simply deemed to be an accompanying symptom. Sufferers can either have hearing loss and no tinnitus, or hearing loss plus tinnitus. Because my hearing is reasonably good in the aforementioned spectrum, '... related symptoms cannot be taken into account'.

My representative from the RBL told me that it's the MoDs 'catch all', 'get out of jail free' card. They know that most applicants will have that little bit of hearing loss and they can then apply the law as it stands. Everyone accepted that some workshops are/were fairly noisey places; but it just ain't admissable in law.

All the same, I'm glad I went through the process rather than just thinking "I wonder if ...?"

 

[Teh Wal]

Sorry to hear that mate...


I SAID "SORRY TO HEAR Tha........"

DT_Xtremez_19:


Bastages!!DT_Xtremez_21:

My symptoms are probably a reflection of yours, slight hearing loss (less than 20%) with associated tinnitus. Ah well.

 

[Tabber]

I joined the RAF in 90 and was assessed as G2 because of high tone deafness I developed in the Infantry (SLR, LMG etc). Prior to deploying to KAF in Dec 09 I was given a hearing test and assessed as G1. Strangely, my tinitus is just the same - and I should know! Have hearing standards dropped in line with the rest of the Air Farce - who knows......