Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

Veterans Affairs Canada


Recommended Posts

  • Forum Moderator

A while back, I submitted an application to Veterans Affairs for support for hearing loss.  My audiologist figured I had a good case, having been around jet engines for several years. Today, the benefits package brochure arrived in the mail.

 

I now have coverage for hearing services and devices.  I will be ordering a pair of hearing aids soon.

 

It also covers prescription drugs.  I had been claiming my HRT under my wife's civil service pension plan.  It covered about 75% of the generic patches, but only about 30% of the brand name patches that I prefer.  The Veterans Affairs package covers 100%, including for the brand name patches - I already checked!

 

And there could also be a small pension on the way for the hearing loss.  I hope to hear about that soon.  And there are various other benefits I could become entitled to in future.

 

The requirements to be considered a veteran are pretty simple.  You have to have completed Basic Training and have an houourable discharge.

 

I had heard that Veterans Affairs was pretty generous (my wife used to work for them, so she gave me the scoop), and I am happy to find out that it is true.  I need the hearing aids, and the full ride on my HRT is a nice bonus.

Link to comment

Excellent news.  Very nice that your system is working on your behalf without undue hassle!

 

Astrid

Link to comment

I was around those jet engines in the military too.  Certainly not every day.  There was all the loud amplified music as well.  Luckily my hearing is still in decent shape.  I'm more concerned about my eyesight.

 

I came out as transgender to my primary care physician at the VA last month.  It went over very well and it turns out he is very experienced with it.  I'm still getting my transgender care privately and paying full price for HRT.  I'm sure the VA will be there for me when I decide to use them.

 

It was interesting wearing my feminine clothing for the first time in the VA clinic waiting room!  And showing off my neon yellow bra when I got shots!

Link to comment

Congrats @KathyLauren! On both the hearing coverage and the full ride for HRT! 

 

And, @Lydia_R, your VA experience mirrors mine.  I found they were very receptive to me for HRT, so go for it! The worst they can do is decline, but that isn't very likely.

Link to comment

That's great @KathyLauren

 

17 hours ago, Lydia_R said:

It was interesting wearing my feminine clothing for the first time in the VA clinic waiting room! 

I was kinda nervous about that at first myself.  I worked into it in increments.  I don't think I need to worry though.  

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator
On 12/5/2022 at 7:43 PM, KathyLauren said:

And there could also be a small pension on the way for the hearing loss.  I hope to hear about that soon.

 

Got the letter today.  Yes, they officially recognize that my hearing loss was caused by my military service, and I will be getting a small monthly payment as compensation.  Nice!  Well, not nice that I am losing my hearing, but nice to get compensated.

Link to comment
1 hour ago, KathyLauren said:

I will be getting a small monthly payment as compensation

Better than nothing 

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...
  • Forum Moderator

Well, I found out that my coverage doesn't include 100% of prescriptions.  It's only hearing-related prescriptions.  Oh well, better than a kick in the head.  The fully-subsidized hearing aids are something I hadn't even hoped for.

 

My hearing aids arrived yesterday.  They make a big difference!  I'll have to re-learn what treble sounds like: I haven't heard much for years, and there's lots of it now!  Everything sounds like it's playing through a cheap transistor radio.  Still, I can hear conversation in noisy environments.  On my walk yesterday, I heard birds chirping, which I haven't heard in a long time.

Link to comment

So glad you could hear the birds. Just out of curiosity can they perhaps tune the hearing aids for you so it's clearer?

Link to comment
1 hour ago, KathyLauren said:

On my walk yesterday, I heard birds chirping, which I haven't heard in a long time.

That must have been nice.

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator
37 minutes ago, Marcie Jensen said:

So glad you could hear the birds. Just out of curiosity can they perhaps tune the hearing aids for you so it's clearer?

 

Yes, they can adjust the hearing aid's response.  Right now, it is adjusted to give me back 75% of what my audiogram says I have lost.  It is plenty clear!

 

The "excess" treble is just my brain noticing what it hasn't noticed in years.  My audiologist told me that he routinely gets clients complaining about the "excess" treble and asking for it to be adjusted out.  He adjusts it until the client says it sounds good.  At which point, he points out that the hearing aid is essentially off!

 

I will just have to get used to the new sound.  It is what I was supposed to be hearing all along.

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator
42 minutes ago, Ivy said:

That must have been nice.

 

It was! :)

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

Hi KathyLauren, I just wanted to confirm that you had the hearing tests done prior to your approaching Veterans Affairs. I am also a former CAF member, have been suffering from severe tinnitus and deteriorating hearing. I definitely want to look into this matter. 

 

Thank you for making this post. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Hi, @_Kira_.

 

Yes.  I knew I needed hearing aids, and my wife persuaded me to get my hearing tested.  In the interview, the audiologist asked if I had had any past exposure to loud noises, and I mentioned my air force service.  That's when he suggested applying to Veterans' Affairs.

 

I called their 800 number and asked them to send me an application package for hearing loss benefits.  When I submitted the application, I included a photocopy of my audiogram.  They ask you to describe how hearing loss affects your life, and why you think it was related to your military service.  I mentioned constant exposure to jet engines over six years, as well as weapons training on Basic, and a couple of exceptional incidents of exposure to painfully loud sounds.

 

Independently, my audiologist sent my records directly to them.  They needed the file number from my application for reference, so they couldn't send it in until I had the application in my hands. 

 

After that, it took a few weeks and I got a letter accepting that my hearing loss was service-related, and saying that I had 100% coverage for treatment relating to hearing loss.

 

Good luck with your application!

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

By the way, being trans was a non-issue to Veterans' Affairs.  I gave the phone guy my dead name as well as my current name, just to make finding my file easier.  But all my correspondence has been under my current name.  It helps that my surname and initials have not changed.  Linking to my service file was done through my SIN, of course, and all my new correspondence is by my new Veterans' Affairs number.

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   2 Members, 0 Anonymous, 185 Guests (See full list)

    • Abigail Genevieve
    • Betty K
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.6k
    • Total Posts
      768k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,014
    • Most Online
      8,356

    Quillian
    Newest Member
    Quillian
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. l.demiurge
      l.demiurge
  • Posts

    • Abigail Genevieve
      On the way back to her desk she was interrupted by six short, urgent conversations that had to be attended to. Then she slipped into the women's room and locked the stall door.  She took a deep breath, then another, and allowed herself to shake for five minutes,  Then deep breathing, ten in and ten out, stretch up, touch the floor, neck rolls and she was fine. She used the toilet and a woman knocked and said, "Taylor, are you okay?"   "Ready to conquer the world!"  on her way out she found her makeup was fine.  Three stalls, two sinks.  If she ever designed a women's room with three stalls, there would be four sinks, with plenty of space to plunk your stuff down between them.   She met a deferential Karen.  "Here is the branding I came up with," she said.  And she went back to working as hard as Brenda and Mary, who looked up worriedly and then went back to the proposal.   Shortly before 5:00 she received an email with the title Consolidation and Compensation.  In it she learned that the position of office manager was eliminated, and the current office manager was to become the chief executive officer. The former CEO, along with the CFO, the chief legal officer, and sundry staff, had been terminated, per the Board of Directors.  Effective immediately everyone would receive a base salary of $20,000 with a commission to be set by the individual's supervisor.  Each supervisor would be given a certain percentage to distribute.  Most functions they had been handled would be outsourced as needed.   "The question of what profit was made last year is frequent enough to be answered.  The company lost over 500,000 in fiscal 2023.  At this point further cuts are not anticipated.  We will be strategically adding positions that will enhance our profits. Hard work is expected of everyone."   Her two web guys had been complaining because their games had been remotely uninstalled.  After the memo came out they were absolutely silent.  That gave her an idea, and after an exchange of emails they were reassigned to maintenance out at the plant, effective tomorrow morning.  There were lots of weeds that needed pulling, if nothing else. That email went out after they left early, for the day.  The maintenance foreman was a no-nonsense type who did not tolerate slacking, and they would learn a thing or two.  This also freed up two spaces for her to put new people.
    • Davie
      Except for this thung thwister: Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three-thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb. Now if, Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of of unsifted thistles, thrust three-thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb, how many thistles can'st thou thrust through the thick of thy thumb . . . in sifting a sieve-full of unsifted thistles? Success to the successful thistle sifter!
    • VickySGV
      You have given you and us a big clue right there.  I hope you have shared this observation with your Endocrinologist and are willing to take their advice about changing that behavior.    Non prescribed herbal or animal supplements can have a negative effect on your body's use of your available hormones.  Also, your genetics are going to be controlling what your body is going to do with your hormones, and again, that is for you to consult with your Endocrinologists.  On this site none of us are licensed medical personnel and we cannot give you advice on your health more than what your doctor can.  We have rules that we enforce against our members advising about "Folk Remedies" because we have had members who have gone that route and badly damaged their health and quality of life.  Only thing I can go anywhere on, is that maybe if you change your expectations of what should happen, you will at least not be in danger of harming yourself from anxiety.
    • Timi
      Hi @violet r!    Thank you so much for sharing. I'm so glad you found this place. I hope you find as much comfort and support here as I have.    -Timi    
    • marysssia
      Hi lovely people,   I'm a 25 yo MtF woman, and I've been suffering from low estrogen issues since October 2023. I completely lost my feminine libido, my breast completely stopped growing, my estrogen levels dropped by a lot (despite NOT decreasing my E dosage) and thus my dysphoria drastically increased. I think it is worth mentioning that, for my health issues, I had been taking ----- Lamotrigine for months & had been on ketogenic diet, and these things seem to be a culprit of my current issue. I weaned off Lamotrigine some time ago and gave up on keto diet, but it still doesn't seem to help. My estrogen is still low (44 ng/ml) and my libido hasn't come back yet. In general, I struggle with my dysphoria so much because of that and, to be honest, I don't know what to do. I've tried so many dietary supplements, yet I didn't get any effects from them. My endocrinologist didn't know how to help me. She only suggested to increase my daily estrogen dose (to 3x per day ------sublingual estrogen tablets and 3x per day ------ estrogen gel applied to armpits or thighs), which I did, without any effect.   Please, help me. Prior to keto diet & Lamotrigine treatment, I'd never had experience like that. I'm basically helpless and have no clue what to do. Having to deal with low estrogen is a horrible experience to me and it affects my life severely.   BTW, my T levels are always within female range.   Do you have any clue what exactly I should do?
    • April Marie
      I love wearing a jeans skirt!! That looks like airport carpet. Safe travels if you're flying!!
    • Maddee
      Flight faraway forthcoming Fabulous forum friends 😊😊🎸🦂
    • Maddee
    • KathyLauren
      One of our cats is polydactyl.  He has 7 toes on each front paw and 5 on each back paw, for 24 toes total.   Another one, an ex-feral who, at the time, was free to roam, climbed 50 feet up a tree without having any thought about how he was going to get down.  His pal climed down backwards, but he couldn't.  He ended up coming down by leaping from branch to branch.  Which nearly gave us heart attacks, because he only has one eye and therefore has no depth perception.   The other ex-feral (both are now indoor cats) obviously does not have those soft pads on his feet.  At night, when we are in bed, we can hear him stomping around the house.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      The two o'clock Onshoring meeting was going well.  Taylor was leading, inviting other people up to speak on their specialties. Aerial photogrammetry and surveying, including the exact boundary, were out for contract signature  Gibson had handled that - Manufacturing was supposed to, but somehow hadn't happened.  Legal issues from Legal. Accounting reported on current costs, including all upkeep, guard salaries, etc.  Manufacturing was supposed to give those numbers, but they hadn't.   The downside was the VP of Manufacturing.  He had arrived at the meeting red-faced, his tie askew, clutching a bottle. It smelled strongly of vodka. He had never done anything in his twenty years of being VP of Manufacturing, and he did not like being asked now.   "Mr. ----, do you have the inventory we asked for?" Taylor asked politely.  VP Gibson had asked him to have his people go through the plant and not only inventory but assess the operational status of every piece of equipment.  They needed to know what they had. "I'm not going to take any f---- orders from a g-d- tra---," he snarled. "God knows what kind of perverts it has dragged into our fair city and bangs every night." "That is completely out of line." That was Gibson.  Taylor controlled herself.  That was a shot at Bob, not just at Taylor.  She was glad Bob was not there to do something stupid.  Had Mrs. McCarthy been talking? What had she said?  Was she given to embellishment?  Taylor took a deep breath. "I'm not sorry.  You f--- can take this stupid onshoring --- and shove it up your -" "That is quite enough."  This was the head of HR. "You can take your sissy ways and sashay -" "You are fired." "You can't fire me." "Oh, yes I can," said the office manager.  The VP took another swig from his bottle. "Try it."  He looked uncertain. "I will have you removed.  Are you going to leave on your own?  I am calling the police to help you leave." And he dialed the number. He stomped out cursing. They heard him noisily go down the hall.  This was the front conference room.  He actually went through security and out the door, throwing his badge on the ground on his way.  The guard picked it up. They could see this through the glass wall. "Can you fire a VP?" "The Board told me that if anyone gives me problems they should be shown the door. Even a VP.  I can fire everyone here. I won't, of course. Those were problems." "Are you alright, Taylor?" She nodded.  "I've heard worse.  Shall we continue?" And they did.   The last item was that certain business people in China had been arrested, and the corporation that had been supporting them all these years had been dissolved.  They were on their own, and the Board was dead serious on straightening things out.  After this meeting, Taylor believed it.  She did not attend the meeting to discuss how to distribute the few duties the VP of Manufacturing had done.  That was ultimately up to the Board.    
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Lunch was at Cabaret, still free.  The place was quiet: it was the sort of place you took a business client to impress them, and the few other people were in business suits.  Most of the legal profession was there.   She told him of the morning's frustrations, breaking her own rule about confidentiality.  She asked Karen how the branding was going, and Karen had snapped back that she had not started on it yet - they had all these proposals.  Taylor had explained that it was important, for the two o'clock meeting, and Karen told her to do it herself.  Karen pointed out that Taylor could not touch her - her uncle was on the Board and her brother was VP of Manufacturing.  Nor would the two computer guys go out to the plant - they were playing some kind of MMORPG and simply not available. If she wanted the pictures, she should go.  Mary prayed an Ave Maria, but both she and Brenda were racing to get the proposal out. The client wanted it Friday for review.   She didn't bring up what Mrs. McCarthy had told her.  She wasn't sure how to approach it.  She thought of telling her of a 'something more comfortable' she had bought in case he ever DID show up at her door. It was in the bottom drawer of her dresser, ready to go.  Instead she talked about moving to a place with a garage.  Several of the abandoned houses had one, and they had been maintained well with China cash.   Bob had finally realized that when he was introduced as Bob, Taylor's boyfriend, that was just how things were done here. Other people had introduced each other in terms of family relationships, which were strong.  Long before you found out anything else about someone, you knew how they were related.  Family kept people from leaving Millville.    "What is the real name of this town, anyway?"   She laughed.  "I am trying to find that out.  It's 'Welcome to Millvale' when you come into town from the north, and 'Welcome to Millville' on the south.  I have counted two other variants."   "What a town. Roosevelt is like that, with the families, but there is only one spelling."  
    • Ashley0616
      Nothing wrong with that. I'm glad that you found what makes you happy! Just curious what does your wife think? If it's too personal I understand.
    • Ashley0616
    • Ashley0616
      – According to a recent survey, the most popular name for a dog is Max. Other popular names include Molly, Sam, Zach, and Maggie.
    • Ashley0616
  • Upcoming Events

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...