hypertension Tinnitus Possible Causes?

[seejeremy]

Hi everyone.  I have a question regarding tinnitus.  I filed last year and was denied without a C&P exam.  I spent most of my career on the admin side due to what civilians call medical malpractice at an Air Force hospital.  So, other than a short tour in Bosnia, no combat experience that could have caused it.  I would like to know if tinnitus could be secondary to one of my other disabilities.  Please don't get me wrong, I don't want anything I'm not entitled to, but I've had ringing in my ears for as long as I can remember so if it is service connected, I'd like the VA to rate it.  

I am currently rated for:

MDD-70%

Sleep Apnea-50%

Sciatica, Right-40%

BPH-40%

Tracheotomy Scar-30% (this, and everything related to it, is where they really screwed me up)

Sciatica, Left-20%

right medial epicondylitis-10%

GERD-10%

Allergic Rhinitis-10%

Sinusitis-10% (secondary to rhinitis)

Deviated Septum-10%

Hypertension-0%

Left thumb scar-0%

Meds currently include Divalproex, Bupropion, Lisinopril/HCTZ, Nexuim, Atorvastatin, Hydroxyzine Pamoate, and Tamulosin.  

I apologize for the length of this. Like I said, if tinnitus isn't tied to any of this, fine.  But if it is, I'd like that service connection documented.

Thanks everyone.

[Buck52]

There's  no known medical reason for tinnitus  but usually hearing loss and tinnitus goes hand in hand

there are two types of tinnitus &.

A medical Dr in this field of expertise will need to make that opinion & as for as a secondary to cause or aggravate tinnitus.

I would recommend you request a Hearing test from the VA  and you need to let them know about the ringing in your head  not your ears this is the only way a Dr can know you may have tinnitus....the tinnitus is an unknow sounds that come from the middle of the head...and it bout drive a person batty, also if your wanting to get this S.C. AND Possibly rated   you need to  remember if you were around any loud noise while in the military  your mos AND what you did in the military,,,,you don't need combat to qualify for  S.C. Disability  as long as  any event that caused your condition/disability while in the military   if you can prove it  then you can get compensation for it.  but its on the veteran to prove that...you do this with medical reports hearing test  and your lay statement in detail as to how the even happen.  this is called bilateral noise induced hearing loss and it gets worse over the years.   with the exception of natural age progression.

jmo

..................Buck

[Berta]

You might want to go over this VA Fast Letter as well:

 

[Vync]

Many people do not realize that tinnitus may be caused by dental treatment: https://www.tinnitusformula.com/library/dental-issues-and-tinnitus

The article includes case study references for many of the potential causes.

Examples include:
- Dental drills
- Ultrasonic plaque removal
- Abscesses, Impacted Wisdom Teeth and TMJ
- Bruxism
- Mercury Amalgam Fillings

Who would have thought any of those might lead to tinnitus?

Because seejeremy is SC for MDD-70%, there may be a possibility that it could lead to bruxism.

Of course, the doc writing it might be interested in reviewing medical/dental/MH records from in service and after in order to tie it all together with adequate medical rationale.

In my case, I my tinnitus is SC secondary to my SC TMJ. The military yanked all my third molars and left me with a permanently dislocated jaw and TMJ dysfunction. My nexus came from an audiologist.

[Buck52]

Good Points Vync & Ms berta  fast letter is good.

 Vync I had thought that Dental problems could lead to tinnitus  but was not sure  and if ask va dentist  they clam up about it ....if you mention a claim for compensation purposes.

I told the VA Audiologist that did my hearing test  right before he retired about buzz/ringing /crickett sounds in my ears and it was constant about to drive me batty   and I'm already batty enough eh! 

I got 10% for tinnitus/It just says 10% tinnitus  in the rating sheet  so I guess it would be a secondary condition to my profound hearing loss?   and by the way at present as for as I know and what the CFRS State   tinnitus is only a 10% rating and usually with both ears.

[Buck52]

Here's is a fairly good medical opinion about tinnitus.& the two forms of tinnitus I mention in above post .

1.subjective and 2.objective.

 

tinnitus is an odd noise that sounds as if it’s coming from inside the ear. This noise generally presents itself as a buzzing or ringing in the ears.

This condition affects approximately 20 percent of the population. It’s not considered a medical condition by itself, although it may indicate other medical issues. Tinnitus is considered to be a distraction and aggravation which affects concentration. It may signal an underlying condition which much be treated. There are many facts people do not know about tinnitus, its symptoms, treatments and its relation to hearing loss.

Facts

Tinnitus comes in two forms: subjective and objective. In subjective tinnitus, only the sufferer will hear the ringing in their own ears. In objective tinnitus, the sound can be heard by a doctor who is examining the ear canals. Objective tinnitus is extremely rare, while subjective tinnitus is by far the most common form of the disorder.

The sounds of tinnitus may vary with the person experiencing it. Some will hear a ringing, while others will hear a buzzing. At times people may hear a chirping or whistling sound. These sounds may be constant or intermittent. They may also vary in volume and are generally more obtrusive when the sufferer is in a quiet environment. Many tinnitus sufferers find their symptoms are at their worst when they’re trying to fall asleep.

Causes

There are many different causes of tinnitus. These causes range from environmental conditions to other medical issues to aging of the body.

Environmental issues such as loud noises experienced repeatedly may be causes of tinnitus. Noise hazards experienced over time may damage the ears. This damage may also be caused by one incident of extremely loud noise. In this case the noise would need to be loud enough to damage the ear with one application. While tinnitus does not cause hearing loss there would be loss in this case and the tinnitus is the result, not the cause.

Certain medical conditions may cause tinnitus. In order to determine a medical cause for tinnitus, a doctor should be consulted, as some conditions may be life threatening. The tinnitus is an indication something is wrong and requires treatment. Depending upon the cause, the treatment of the medical issue may cause the tinnitus to disappear once treatment is complete.

Medical conditions may range from a simple ear infection to circulatory problems. These conditions may also involve stress related illness, as well as injuries of the upper body such as head or neck. These conditions may be treatable and the tinnitus may disappear once the issue has been resolved.

Aging of the body is a further cause of tinnitus. As the body ages, its systems may break down and may cause the inner ear to stop functioning correctly. While it does not cause hearing loss, tinnitus may accompany hearing loss in older adults. Medications may also cause tinnitus. While this is not always a symptom of aging, many older adults do take medication. There are many medications which have indications tinnitus may be experienced. This is considered a side effect of the medication and a doctor should be consulted if the ringing in the ears becomes an issue.

Treatments

There is no cure but there are treatments for tinnitus. These take several forms. Changes to diet or medication may stop the tinnitus completely. Solving underlying health issues may also cause the tinnitus to stop. If these solutions are not part of the cause of the tinnitus, then other measures are necessary to mask the symptoms.

Treatments for tinnitus include white noise generators which have been an effective treatment. These generators help to depress the noise of the tinnitus. Hearing aids are also used as treatments for tinnitus to mask the noise. Drugs such as some anti-depressants may help to lessen the noise of tinnitus and a doctor should be consulted for a prescription. Non-medical treatments for tinnitus include living a healthier life with less stress, better diet and sleep habits.

Hearing Loss

Tinnitus is not a cause of hearing loss. It may point to issues with the ear itself or the hearing loss may be a normal symptom of aging. There are many conditions which may affect the inner ear and cause hearing loss. These range from hardening of the bones in the middle ear to inner ear tumors. Constant loud noise or an extreme noise incident may cause the nerves which transmit sound to the brain to be damaged. This will cause hearing loss as well. The tinnitus will generally occur after the hearing loss happens and will not directly cause loss of hearing.

Tinnitus in itself is not a serious medical issue. It may indicate other medical issues and a doctor should be consulted. There are many causes of tinnitus and there are treatments for tinnitus available. While it does not cause hearing problems, the loss of hearing may enable tinnitus to manifest. A doctor should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus.

 

...............Buck

 

 

 

 

[seejeremy]

Thank you all for the research and answers.  I'll look into my meds and see if any have this as a side effect.  Thanks again!