I am writing about the Veterans Affairs interim final rule RIN 2900-AS49, effective Feb. 17, which requires that a disability rating be based on a veteran’s actual, medicated or treated functional impairment, rather than the severity of their condition without treatment.
I am a Vietnam veteran with service-connected disabilities, one of which is hearing loss, which was caused by exposure at the firing range and during mortar and rocket attacks when overseas.
Though my hearing loss is improved by the hearing aids provided by the VA, my quality of life is reduced by my hearing loss. Though better with treatment, it is not the same as it was before the damage occurred.
If a battery or a hearing aid fails, the treatment fails, and I have to go out of my way to either fix the problem or do without treatment until the problem is repaired. This can take minutes or sometimes weeks.
I have to have available to me at all times the accessory parts and maintenance equipment to care for the hearing aids.
Service-connected disabilities took something away from me that very likely would not have been taken from me otherwise, and the VA owes me not only the treatment to try to repair those losses, but also full compensation for my loss.
Russell Heeschen
Greensburg