Hearing Aids From Veterans Affairs

Take him back to the VA. They may be able to remold the to a bigger size mold or replace them with the behind the ear aids. Just remember you are dealing with people that use the book and have no experience wearing such things and don't fully understand how difficult they are to insert with feeble old hands.

My Dad who is 95 years old is completely deaf in one ear and has partial hearing in the other. He finally went to the VA for a hearing aid after years of buying them from other hearing aid businesses. They gave him the "latest and greatest" one and he hates it, says it's too little and claims it doesn't work. He went back to using his very old one. His old one broke the other day, and I can't find anyplace who will fix it. They just want to sell him another one. I live with him, and now I'm losing my hearing from the constant max TV volume.

Been wearing VA hearing aids since I retired from the navy in '84. Mostly good service. Did have one tech tell me I was not co-operating because I could not understand the words in the word recognition part. She did not work there very long. Aids used to be replaced every three years. Now it is every five years.
My batteries come from Denver and it is a toll call. Minimum hold time is 45 minutes. Can be ordered online but read the legal stuff before ordering them. Especially the part about them disclosing your information to the world.
When being ask about which aid you want from their selection, be cautious. Many are "the latest and greatest" toys developed by techno junkies. Not really for use in the real world. Mine have only one volume control knob which controls the volume in both aids at the same time. Which means that I cannot lower the volume in my left ear to hear what is being said on my right better. Frustrating when driving with wife next to me and the buses are on the left or at a restaurant with noisey guest on the left.
My hearing loss goes back to the sixth grade and I needed a VA hearing test to get into the navy. Seems the navy is set up for a different type of hearing loss.
With my hearing getting worse year after year, my needs have changed for the worse.
My brother gets his aids through the VA at no charge and he only served for less than three months during Viet Nam. But as a volunteer he gets VA meds mostly no charge.
Best of luck.

Quigley, my recollection is that we went back to the VA for fitting and instructions. I don't recall any discussion at all of them being mailed out.

I believe though that the VA does mail out glasses.

How long does it take to receive VA hearing aids after mold was fitted and mailed out?

JacksonSt162, yes they will. They will replace them if your hearing needs change or if they are damage/lost at least once; I'm not sure if there is a limit though on how many times they will replace them.

Will the VA replace lost hearing aids

Thanks so much. I'm going to contact the VA audiology department after the holidays and see what can be done. It would be so much easier for Dad, even if we have to pay for them.

No problem. I LOVE these little guys. And they have several volume levels that you can easily change...plus secondary background noise screening if you so want. Best of luck...the VA did fine by me. Merry Merry ....and I hope your dad gets the help he needs.

Thanks Hatteras. I know the only reason I found out about the part that hangs around neck was another vet told me in the waiting. When it was dads turn to go into the office i mentioned the device and the audiologist said sure you can get it, I didn't realize you used a cell phone. For me the cell is my dads lifeline to me. He texts me or calls in morning to let me know he is awake. On the way home from va I was in backseat if car, dad in front and he kept saying he couldn't hear me so I called him on his cell! So much better then repeating myself. I did look up your hearing aids and they are recommended for profound hearing loss. Can't wait until the next appt. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas

Hatteras, do you know if the VA is providing these to as a matter of course in lieu of the kind that fit inside the ear? My father has the insertion kind and has a difficult time getting them in and out. Something that just slips behind the ear would be a lot easier.

I think though that there is a time limit before he could get another pair; however, we might be willing to pay for them if they're reasonable. The VA has the best hearing department we've experienced, far better than any of the commercial outfits.

Rosebush.....no ear mold with these small gems. They are easy to use and totally invisible. Easy to insert and remove. There is a small piece that sits behind the ear and then a transparent wire that goes into a cup that sits inside of the ear canal. Can't recommend them tooooo much!

Hatteras looked up these hesring aids and they really do look promising. Am I correct in that you don't have a esr mold but a esr bud? Thanks

I'm a Vietnam era vet and my disabilities include a hearing loss associated with combat. Now 68, I decided to pursue this with the VA. Ended up with a disability assessment that included a 10% associated with my hearing. Made a few trips to the VA Hospital in Hampton, VA, and just received a top of the line set of OTICON Minirites. Amazing....and I can't thank these folks enough. Complete with a bluetooth sender for the TV, these things are nearly invisible and easy to use. Worth the time and effort to try and get. They also seem to help mask my tinnitus......I guess they would sell for $5 or $6K in the retail world. Definitely give your local contacts a call if you think you need.

Income did not come into play for my dad. Hearing aids were free. He had been in the VA system for years and his primary doc there suggested he make an appt with the audiology dept., my dad was not even aware that he was able to get the hearing aids at no cost. They also provided a device that hangs around his neck (similar to a Bluetooth device) that allows his cell phone calls to go directly into his heSring aids and this device can also be hooked up SI the sound from TV goes to his hearing aids too. You could probably get some help thru your local veterans post. Do not pay anyone to help you, these are not ligimate organizations. If you are already in the VA SYSTEM, just make an audiology appt. Good luck.

What is the maximum annual income and where must it be derived from for a vet to obtain "free" hearing aids?

What is the maximum annual income a vet may have in order to qualify for obtaining "free" hearing aids and where must the source of this income be derived from?

Just got back from the audiology department in Madison, WI. I am currently serving in the Nation Guard and am only 51 years old with profound hearing loss above 4K...must be 80 dB for me to hear it. I have no service connected claim pending or am I rated for any disability. I was told that hearing aids will help with the tinnitus and may help with other issues of hearing. I asked how much they would cost and was told that hearing aids are FREE to ALL veterans. The only thing I will have to pay for is the specialists charge.

Cecil, I just got hearing aids for my father in his late 90's. He served during WWII. It's not too late for you to get hearing aids.

We needed a letter from an ENT stating that it was "as likely as not" that his hearing loss was service related, in heavy bombers. That letter was forwarded to the local County Vets assistance office, which prepared additional paperwork and forwarded it to the American Legion office for processing.

Another hearing exam was subsequently performed by a doctor contracted directly by the VA. His findings substantiated the private sector ENT doctor, and the VA granted the claim of service connected disability.

We had 3 appointments at a VA outpatient facility to get the hearing aids. The first was with one of the team PCPs, who essentially performed the intake process and got things started. The second was with an ENT technician, who performed another hearing test to evaluate specific hearing deficits and ranges of deficits, and the third was to get the hearing aids fitted and adjusted properly to Dad's hearing needs.

As to filing a claim for service connected disability for hearing loss, go for it!

Veterans can also get hearing aids without service related injuries if their income falls below a minimum set by VA. This is also true for free or reduced medical care. Check with VA for services available for low income Veterans.

Your hearing loss does not have to be service connected to get hearing aids. My dad uses his personal insurance for all of his doctors. However, he sees a primary physician at the vet one or two times each year. This keeps him in the VA system and allows him other benefits. He received his first pair of hearing aids over 15 yrs ago. He also received knee braces, a wheelchair, walker and stairchairs. Dad recently moved into my home. My dads disability is only 10%. He needed many if these items due to general age related decline, not as a result of his disability. Make an appointment with a primary care physician to get into the system and he/she will explain the process to get the hearing aids. Good luck

I worked on and flew P2V aircraft 50 years ago as an ADJ mechanic. What's your advice on tinnitus claim after all these years. Also near complete hearing lose in one ear and at least 50% in the other

Thank you one and all. I so very much appreciate the info. I have some hope now.

I am a Veteran i am only 10% service connected but not for hearing. I got hearing aids. Your primary has to refer then they do a hearing test. If you are hearing impaired you will get top of the line hearing aids. I am relatively young and got mine at age 49 4 years ago. Changed my life. I have a pendant I wear aroynd my neck and I can take calls and they go thru my hearing aids. I can also listen to music and TV thru them. The VA supplys all accesorys. My dad is 83 and has no service connection and just got hearing aids. Hearing aids are supplied without service connection!

Yes, here in Houston the VA told my Dad (Korean Vet) that they could not offer him ANYTHING because hearing loss comes with age and we have to prove its service connected. This despite the fact that the hearing loss was worsened by the meds they gave my Dad when he was in ICU for over 3 months for a medical error on their part that almost killed him.

our county VA service officer is wonderful. He helps us look up everything and then if the VA for some reason seems to be resisting benefits that we feel we are entitles to, go to the social worker at your local VA who will also help you. It took me a lot of talking and paperwork but my dad who is a WWII veteran and 97 years old is finally getting all the help he needs. He is also purple heart. They can't do enough for him. It took him years to get his Purple heart benefits, you just have to keep fighting for it. If the person you are talking to doesn't give you the answers you want then talk to someone else. Good Luck.

My dad has been getting his hearing aids through the VA for 15 years. His hearing is not service related. He was also able to get a device that he wears around his neck that allows calls from cell phone to go right into the hearing aid that was provided by the VA. No income requirements. Call the audiology dept. of your local VA. His hearing aids and the device were made by Phonak. If they don't fit properly or make your ears sore, make another appointment and they will fix molds or make you new ones. The VA also installed a stairchair lift im my home because he is now living with me. Thst would need to come from an order from your primary care physician.

Go to the VA and if you are a veteran, even if the hearing loss isn't service connected, you will get hearing aids. All they do is test, and if you have profound loss you get hearing aids. It proves you need hearing aids to conduct your own medical care. Also for legally blind. Same thing.
My husband is waiting for his. They are ordered. You also get free batteries and other connections for your TV and telephone to work with the Hearing aids.
Go for it. All veterans deserve it. Hearing aids are very expensive.

Hearing aids from VA belong to the gov or can be sold/donated to other person in need one we are done with it? Thanks

My 83 year old husband served as a Lieutenant in the Navy during the Korean War. He needs hearing aids and wonder if they are available to him through the VA. He is on medicare and a supplement.