Sensory & Auditory Playbooks
Hearing loss and tinnitus—prove noise exposure and document the daily impact.
Sensory & Auditory Playbooks
Hearing loss and tinnitus are among the most common VA claims. The challenge is connecting your current hearing issues to in-service noise exposure.
Your MOS noise exposure history often matters more than STRs. Many veterans have clean separation physicals but spent years around flight lines, artillery, or engine rooms.
These playbooks show how to document noise exposure, get current audiograms, and write lay statements that describe functional impact—like difficulty hearing conversations or constant ringing.
Sensory Claim Prep
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Tools & Templates
FAQ
What if VA denies tinnitus because there's no record in my STRs?
Tinnitus often isn't documented at separation. Use lay statements describing when ringing started plus MOS noise exposure evidence. The tinnitus playbook includes approaches for this scenario.
How do I show functional impact for hearing loss?
Describe specific situations: difficulty in meetings, needing TV louder, asking people to repeat themselves, safety concerns at work. These concrete examples matter for rating severity.