Tinnitus 24/7

[kag1313]

Hello

I have a Tinnitus rating of 10%. I suffer from it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I am still employed. Has anyone been successfully able to receive a higher rating for tinnitus? How can you only get a higher rating if you are going 100% crazy from it......I also have a disability for hearing loss at 0%.

All comments welcome.

[carlie]

kag,

Welcome to Hadit.

Tha maximum rating for Tinnitus is 10 % - it doesn't matter how loud or how often.

Also,if Tinnitus is not documented as recurrent - it will not even get the 10 %.

VA is to go by the Schedule of Rating Disabilities.

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....38&idno=38

6260 Tinnitus, recurrent - 10

Note (1):

A separate evaluation for tinnitus may be combined with an evaluation under diagnostic codes 6100, 6200, 6204, or other diagnostic code, except when tinnitus supports an evaluation under one of those diagnostic codes.

Note (2):

Assign only a single evaluation for recurrent tinnitus, whether the sound is perceived in one ear, both ears, or in the head.

Note (3):

Do not evaluate objective tinnitus (in which the sound is audible to other people and has a definable cause that may or may not be pathologic) under this diagnostic code, but evaluate it as part of any underlying condition causing it.

Hope this helps a vet.

carlie

Edited April 16, 2009 by carlie

[8541_STA]

Although you can't get any higher than 10% for Tinnitus (no matter if it is in one or both ears), you can get both help and a rating for the mental health issues it is causing you (assuming that "driving me crazy" means depression and/or anxiety, etc.)