I first applied back in the 90’s for a disability for hearing loss and was turned down almost immediately without any exams or anything.
Then came the Camp Lejeune poison water case which I was covered in because I was stationed there for 3 years.
I got into the ‘system’ under those rules.
Then I got an examination approved by the VA to go to a local audiologist and guess what? She discovered I was damn near deaf!
I got new hearing aides and a disability from the VA after only 20 years!
But as I understand it, if you are finally approved for a disability, they owe you from the date of your first application.
So then wouldn’t they owe me for 20 years of back dated payments?
I don’t really know..................
Hearing loss progresses. It may have been caused by active duty (everyone gets annual firearms training) but the degree of hearing loss is not constant.
When you first applied the amount of loss may have been less than it is now and insufficient then to be awarded XX% of disabled.
So your backpay would date to when you filed your first intent to file with the current level of hearing loss, not the original level of hearing loss.
When I finally went in for the VA hearing test, the guy claimed that my record showed they did a pre-separation hearing (whisper) test.
That is an absolute lie, but what can you do?
The back pay only applies from the time of the current application for VA benefits. So, an open, un-closed claim application.