Veterans who have previously served in the United States military are entitled to receive disability compensation or Veterans Affairs hearing aids. However, many veterans do not know how to go about the whole process and are left confused.

What are Veterans Affairs hearing aids?

The hearing loss program started by the Department of Veterans Affairs helps veterans who have experienced hearing loss due to disease or injuries. It helps them find ways to deal with these hearing difficulties and provides information about the services they require.

Not every veteran is entitled to receive hearing aids under VA. The following types of veterans are eligible for the program.

  • Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability
  • Those who were awarded a Purple Heart or are former prisoners of war.
  • Those in receipt of benefits under 38 U.SC 1151.
  • Those who have a hearing or visual impairment resulting from the existence of another medical condition for which the individual is receiving VA care.
  • Those veterans with cognitive or functional impairment which doesn’t include normally occurring visual or hearing difficulties.

The above list is not exhaustive and there are other cases where veterans are eligible.

The following guide aims to help these individuals receive hearing and compensation benefits.

1. Applying for VA benefits

Firstly, the individual need to apply for VA health benefits, which can be done either by phone, on the official website or by post. The process may involve several sub-steps which should be completed correctly with proper information. After the process is complete, the individual has to wait several weeks to receive confirmation of eligibility.

2. Scheduling an appointment

The next step is to schedule an appointment with an audiologist that is part of the program. The individual either receives a welcome call from the VA confirming the appointment or has to schedule the appointment him/herself. They should let the audiologist know about the extent of their hearing difficulties and their intention of scheduling an appointment for a hearing evaluation.

3. Getting checked-up

At the clinic, the audiologists will conduct a comprehensive hearing assessment and discuss hearing concerns with the individual in question. After performing a full assessment, the audiologist determines the degree of hearing loss and whether a hearing aid can help. Depending on the results, the individual will be scheduled for a hearing aid fitting session.

4. Begin fitting session

It is now time to get the hearing aids fitted up. The audiologist first goes over the directions on how to put them on, take them off and replace batteries. Individuals should also ask any questions that they might have related to using the device. The experts are available to answer any queries that veterans might have at this stage.

What is the difference between VA hearing treatment benefits and compensation benefits?

Before applying, veterans must be clear about whether they qualify for hearing healthcare or compensation or both. For this, they need to understand the separate concepts. Assistance for healthcare treatments such as hearing aids is provided by the Veterans Health Administration. They will assist the individual to schedule an appointment, evaluate the hearing loss and determine what the right treatment option is.

On the other hand, the Veterans Benefits Administration is responsible for managing compensation. It will communicate directly with the individual for scheduling an evaluation.

Conclusion

Veterans Affairs hearing aids have helped many veterans live a normal life again. Veterans should always choose a good hearing aid clinic which is covered under the program for maximum benefits.