Following on from your article about deaf servicemen (April) I too am a sufferer - not only of deafness but the bureaucratic way in which I have been treated.

In 1975 a friend gave me an address to write to in order to claim a pension. The powers that be had not notified me, and probably thousands more; however I applied and received a 50% pension for loss of hearing (not backdated!).

About six months ago I had occasion to see an audiologist who informed me that my loss of hearing was 80%. Realising I might be entitled to an increase in pension I wrote to the Veterans Agency in Norcross, Blackpool. They replied that my deterioration was not caused by my war wound but age.

I wrote back asking how someone in Blackpool could make a diagnosis on someone living in South Wales. I received a claim form, pamphlets and a questionnaire - enough to paper my bedroom - telling me how to apply for a war pension. I immediately phoned the VA to ask what the hell they were doing. The receptionist I spoke to said I had been in receipt of a war pension for 30 years - to which I replied that she might know that but some fool in her office didn’t.

She agreed there had been a mistake and that I should scrap the forms. She then sent me a claim form and questionnaire asking me to produce medical proof of my deterioration.

Fortunately I had kept a copy of my records from the hospital and sent it on. A week later the VA told me to attend an address in Cardiff which is 30 miles away. After the hearing test I had there they turned down my claim - stating that it was the decision of their doctor.

I decided to appeal and asked a representative of the war pensions office to assist me in making out the claim forms. He came to my house and - in the course of our meeting - said I was wasting my time. Accepting that he was the more experienced in this matter I accepted his advice.

However, your article and that of Alan Dalziel has given me food for thought and I intend to reapply and battle on. I’m 90, and I hope this letter will help ex-servicemen far worse off than me.