I am fortunate in that the Veterans Administration picks up my hearing costs since my hearing loss is service connected.
Riding a Motorcycle and Your Health
- Thread starter DaveM
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So's mine but I don't let the VA touch me. I value my health too much to risk letting them perform any procedure on me.
I have a decent private health plan, and I just want my check every month. That, and for them to leave me the Hell alone. I think those are pretty reasonable conditions.
I have a decent private health plan, and I just want my check every month. That, and for them to leave me the Hell alone. I think those are pretty reasonable conditions.
That’s wonderful! Glad for you and many of the vets receiving benefits that will improve their quality of life. Someday I hope to see the same level extended to all.
When riding your motorbike very slowly, don't put your feet on the ground. Might mean you get a few extra years tagged into life.
https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/dr-michael-mosley-standing-on-one-leg/
Keeping feet up when stopped at traffic lights could mean many extra years?
https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/dr-michael-mosley-standing-on-one-leg/
Keeping feet up when stopped at traffic lights could mean many extra years?
The VA in Orlando is very competent and professional. I have received excellent vision and hearing care. I do have a GP primary care doc on the civilian side.
I've heard it all before: "The VA in (insert whatever town) is very competant and professional…"
…Until they're not.
One thing I've noticed over my many years having to deal w/ them is that whereas how they used to just be beligerant a—holes straight to your face while providing piss-poor services now they're phony condescending a—holes who pretend to care… while providing piss-poor services. They've just masked their incompetance and disdain for their patients. If you're cool with them and are willing to trust your life and limb to what I know is their questionable skill levels, go right ahead. I know otherwise. I got 3 buddies, 2 of them younger guys, in the ground who went into various VA's for routine elective out-patient procedures, never to make it out of the recovery room. I got 40 grand of metal in my left leg compliments of the Bay Pines VA refusing to give me an MRI. This is the same VA that amputated the wrong leg on patients …twice… within a couple months of each other. I've watched the VA regularly abuse and neglect patients that would put a provider outside the VA system in jail.
So have at it. Go VA all day every day and sing their praises from the highest hill. They hate you and do not care about your well being nor have your best intersts in mind. They care about themselves and their budget allotments. Full stop. Just keep in mind that while you're being treated with "competance and professionalism" a lot of guys who have no where else to turn to for medical care are being treated with blatant malice and intentional ineptitude. They are suffering.
I get all I want from them… my disability pension. Aside from that they can just stay the Hell away from me. Again, I think those are pretty reasonable conditions.
…Until they're not.
One thing I've noticed over my many years having to deal w/ them is that whereas how they used to just be beligerant a—holes straight to your face while providing piss-poor services now they're phony condescending a—holes who pretend to care… while providing piss-poor services. They've just masked their incompetance and disdain for their patients. If you're cool with them and are willing to trust your life and limb to what I know is their questionable skill levels, go right ahead. I know otherwise. I got 3 buddies, 2 of them younger guys, in the ground who went into various VA's for routine elective out-patient procedures, never to make it out of the recovery room. I got 40 grand of metal in my left leg compliments of the Bay Pines VA refusing to give me an MRI. This is the same VA that amputated the wrong leg on patients …twice… within a couple months of each other. I've watched the VA regularly abuse and neglect patients that would put a provider outside the VA system in jail.
So have at it. Go VA all day every day and sing their praises from the highest hill. They hate you and do not care about your well being nor have your best intersts in mind. They care about themselves and their budget allotments. Full stop. Just keep in mind that while you're being treated with "competance and professionalism" a lot of guys who have no where else to turn to for medical care are being treated with blatant malice and intentional ineptitude. They are suffering.
I get all I want from them… my disability pension. Aside from that they can just stay the Hell away from me. Again, I think those are pretty reasonable conditions.
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Sorry you had those experiences. I go outside of the VA for most things. The Opthamology department saved my eye sight.
A broken clock is right twice a day. Outstanding that they did such a great job on your eyes. You’re more a man than me, I can tell you that. There is absolutely NO WAY I would ever let the VA mess with something as sensitive and vital as my eyesight.
A USMC buddy of mine and myself are actually planning an epic transcontinental ride to raise awareness of VA patient abuses and neglect. I’m expecting a lot of political pushback as well as hate from a lot of the Vet community. Nobody’s going to be willing risk being associated with us as to potentially jeopardize their benefits. We’ll probably be 100% on our own financially, which is no problem. We can handle it. Push comes to shove we have good credit.
We’re going to run the whole thing as a veteran nonprofit. Right now the mission statement is classified but once we’re locked in and getting close to shoving off, I’ll keep everyone posted. If we can pull this off, it’ll be one for the history books.
Stay tuned.
A USMC buddy of mine and myself are actually planning an epic transcontinental ride to raise awareness of VA patient abuses and neglect. I’m expecting a lot of political pushback as well as hate from a lot of the Vet community. Nobody’s going to be willing risk being associated with us as to potentially jeopardize their benefits. We’ll probably be 100% on our own financially, which is no problem. We can handle it. Push comes to shove we have good credit.
We’re going to run the whole thing as a veteran nonprofit. Right now the mission statement is classified but once we’re locked in and getting close to shoving off, I’ll keep everyone posted. If we can pull this off, it’ll be one for the history books.
Stay tuned.
Ok! Sounds good.
I support that. There have been many VA failures. Fortunately, the new VA Hospital in Orlando has few complaints. There are VA facilities I would not go near.A broken clock is right twice a day. Outstanding that they did such a great job on your eyes. You’re more a man than me, I can tell you that. There is absolutely NO WAY I would ever let the VA mess with something as sensitive and vital as my eyesight.
A USMC buddy of mine and myself are actually planning an epic transcontinental ride to raise awareness of VA patient abuses and neglect. I’m expecting a lot of political pushback as well as hate from a lot of the Vet community. Nobody’s going to be willing risk being associated with us as to potentially jeopardize their benefits. We’ll probably be 100% on our own financially, which is no problem. We can handle it. Push comes to shove we have good credit.
We’re going to run the whole thing as a veteran nonprofit. Right now the mission statement is classified but once we’re locked in and getting close to shoving off, I’ll keep everyone posted. If we can pull this off, it’ll be one for the history books.
Stay tuned.
Those that already have damaged hearing from riding, wearing hearing aids can prevent something much worse. I worked as a carer during the government-mandated lockdowns, and it's not something I'd want.
https://www.theguardian.com/society...mentia-study-finds?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
https://www.theguardian.com/society...mentia-study-finds?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Same as the rest of you; I'm old, deef, 'n suffer drain bammage. Airplanes, a stint as an artillery officer, more than a half century of riding motorycles, etc.
Now I wear hearing aids, stuff 'em in my ears first thing in the morning, they don't come out--other than for riding the 'cycle or going to the range--until I'm in bed. They took a few months to get used to having them in my ears but now I forget they're there. Cost? Not too bad...if one has been in the US military. VA will cover hearing loss, just tell your VA primary care contact that you need a referral to the audiologist. VA has audio specialists on staff in all the regional centers and most of the CBOC (Community Based Outpatient Clinic) locations.
You'll be tested. given your choice of several different manufacturer's hearing aids, then you receive a fresh supply of batteries, ear domes and wax guards every six months. Every four years you get retested and receive a new pair of hearing aids. From experience, each new set is a technological improvement, better than the last. I have long, shaggy hair...very few people know I'm wearing the things. Even my VA doctor didn't notice the hearing aids first time I had 'em in when I had a checkup. He tried to check my ears before realizing something was in the way.
One more advantage. I pair my hearing aids with my phone. I killed the notifications--don't want the effing things to ring in my ear--but I can hear phone conversations better than I ever did before.
Robert
(Just don't forget to take the aids out when you pull the helmet on when you go for a putt. They catch every noise from the engine and the road then amplify the stuflf.)
Now I wear hearing aids, stuff 'em in my ears first thing in the morning, they don't come out--other than for riding the 'cycle or going to the range--until I'm in bed. They took a few months to get used to having them in my ears but now I forget they're there. Cost? Not too bad...if one has been in the US military. VA will cover hearing loss, just tell your VA primary care contact that you need a referral to the audiologist. VA has audio specialists on staff in all the regional centers and most of the CBOC (Community Based Outpatient Clinic) locations.
You'll be tested. given your choice of several different manufacturer's hearing aids, then you receive a fresh supply of batteries, ear domes and wax guards every six months. Every four years you get retested and receive a new pair of hearing aids. From experience, each new set is a technological improvement, better than the last. I have long, shaggy hair...very few people know I'm wearing the things. Even my VA doctor didn't notice the hearing aids first time I had 'em in when I had a checkup. He tried to check my ears before realizing something was in the way.
One more advantage. I pair my hearing aids with my phone. I killed the notifications--don't want the effing things to ring in my ear--but I can hear phone conversations better than I ever did before.
Robert
(Just don't forget to take the aids out when you pull the helmet on when you go for a putt. They catch every noise from the engine and the road then amplify the stuflf.)
To their credit, VA will give you top of the line hearing aids if you qualify. Like $6K units. I'm told they give you Bionic-Man hearing. A dude I know only really uses his for deer hunting and he says he can actually hear the animals tip-toeing out at range. I'm still not interested. Just cut me my checks and go away.
There's no way I can be convinced they do this out of compassion, judging by all their other conduct. These days their game is to commonly award a service-related hearing loss at a 0% rating, which sounds ludicrous. The fine print here is that this absolves them of actually paying the veteran any disability pension money. It's a cost thing. The company that makes the hearing aids must have an unbelievably juicy contract with the federal government. This program is all about the bottom line- cost. And nothing more.
Besides, I'll just lose them after a couple beers somewhere or they'll get broken in my daypack from slamming it around.
There's no way I can be convinced they do this out of compassion, judging by all their other conduct. These days their game is to commonly award a service-related hearing loss at a 0% rating, which sounds ludicrous. The fine print here is that this absolves them of actually paying the veteran any disability pension money. It's a cost thing. The company that makes the hearing aids must have an unbelievably juicy contract with the federal government. This program is all about the bottom line- cost. And nothing more.
Besides, I'll just lose them after a couple beers somewhere or they'll get broken in my daypack from slamming it around.
Wire-Wheels
Member
My hearing is pretty shot. A lifelong career working on machinery of all kinds. Auto mechanic, machine shops, factories, commercial HVAC, boiler rooms, etc. In the old days nobody wore hearing protection. I have been retired now 14 years. I will probably need hearing aids before I am gone. ...J.D.
I have been wearing aids for 11 years, flying and riding without hearing protection did me in. I still only hear less than half of group conversation with them, it gets frustrating.
Wire, I'll be retired 17 years in June, I was able to retire at age 50.
Wire, I'll be retired 17 years in June, I was able to retire at age 50.
I would love to be able to get hearing aids now but my side they so expensive and my medical insurance really does not give you much for them. I had laser done to my eyes and the cost was twice that of hearing aids and they paid the full amount for that.
Wire-Wheels
Member
I retired at 63. I wanted to wait until my second pension was vested. After that I spent 6 years as an unpaid volunteer. I finally just got too old to do the physical work they wanted me to do. I am 77, and a lifetime, gearhead. ...J.D.
