The top service-related medical issue for military veterans isn’t missing limbs, traumatic brain injury or even post-traumatic stress disorder.

It’s a hearing injury.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), more than 2.7 million veterans currently receive disability benefits for hearing loss or tinnitus, a ringing in the ears.

The Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter is asking all HLAA members, state organizations, and chapters to support their efforts in reaching out to veterans. The chapter’s main initiative is to spread the word to discharged veterans that any veteran who has experienced service-connected hearing difficulties should contact their closest VA health care facility for a hearing evaluation and treatment. The chapter encourages veterans with hearing loss to connect and join a local HLAA Chapter as well as the virtual chapter for peer support. The chapter also encourages all HLAA members who are veterans to join and help grow the virtual chapter to have a greater impact in their outreach.

The Veterans Across America Virtual Veterans Chapter meetings are free, captioned, and you can meet from the comfort of your own home. If you are interested in joining this chapter, please email Carla Beyer-Smolin, national chapter and membership coordinator.

Article from the September 26, 2019 Hearing Life e-News produced by the Hearing Loss Association of America