Serving one’s country is a point of pride for many servicemembers in Florida and across the United States. Unfortunately, individuals in all branches of the military suffer in ways that most civilians cannot imagine, both physically and mentally. In fact, it is not uncommon for servicemembers to endure lasting negative and disabling effects on their lives due to experiences they went through during their time in military service. In particular, tinnitus and hearing loss are major and common issues.
Some may think that loud noise just comes with the territory of being in the armed forces. Certainly, on an almost daily basis, servicemembers’ hearing handles a barrage of sounds stemming from sources including:
- Gunshots
- Explosions
- Rockets
- Cannons
- Tanks
- Aircraft takeoffs and landings
- Ship engines
- Machinery
Of course, this list shows only a few examples of the numerous noise sources that military members encounter. Over time, these and other loud noises can permanently affect the hearing abilities of these individuals. For many, tinnitus and hearing loss are permanent outcomes from their time in the service, and studies continue to assess how this damage occurs, how to better diagnose damage to hearing in veterans and how the issues can affect their lives.
In many cases, veterans who have suffered such disabling effects, as well as others, deserve benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. However, many deserving servicemembers and veterans have a difficult time getting the disability benefits they should be entitled to. If Florida veterans are having a challenging time getting the VA to help them obtain benefits for tinnitus, hearing loss or other hearing-related damage from time in service, they may want to consider getting assistance from legal professionals who could advocate on their behalf.
