I got out in May of 1974 from Centerville and was sent to Treasure Island, I believe, for separation physical. It was true there was nothing in NAVFACEN other than a HM and Redwood Memorial in Fortuna, a Navy dentist that used to come once a year for treatment and cleaning I believe. I don't know how hearing was, I reenlisted 7 months later and there was no mention of loss
Thanks for sharing, Mike. Folks in the IUSS system started asking about this ever since we started getting old. :older_man: We've looked into it many times and generally always come around to similar conclusions. Tinnitus is common in men, beginning in their 50s and 60s, who smoked and who have cardiovascular issues. Many of us here, myself included, fit that mold. I'm male, 65, smoked from age of 20 until 28 and I have periodic tinnitus; but it doesn't bother me. I personally don't believe SOSUS display rooms were that noisy and I'm more concerned about what we inhaled and ingested for as long as we were exposed to that carbon dust and who knows what else. I always recommend folks with tinnitus who qualify for VA benefits to speak with their doctor about it. A few of us have received compensation but most do not. I asked a VA doctor here in Hampton Roads about it once He said that had I claimed tinnitus while still on active duty, VA would have granted disability of 10% - no questions. I decided to drop it there and not pursue.
I’m not holding out too much hope. The Marine 1st Sgt at my local suggested this. Since I’m a single hitch squid, I don’t qualify for much more.
He said the local VA medical here in central MA is not great! Right now, I make too much money so I’m playing Russian roulette with the health insurance equation!
Sad, my wife’s Medicare is better the VA health care! At least she can see whomever she wants!
When I had my hearing tested for enlistment at Argentia in 1971, the results showed a loss from my original enlistment hearing test. My hearing was checked every two years through 1975 at military bases and it keep decreasing. Upon release from Active Duty, the VA rated me at 0% for hearing and tinnitus, four years later they rated me at 10%. The VA supplied me new hearing aids last June. The base doctor at Argentia had suspect the cause of the loss was cause be the high noise level in the Equipment Rooms where I worked and sleep when on duty watch (both at Argentia & Eleuthera {in room next to the 400 MC Unit & Generators}).