DDuck

Hooya!!! Sorry that was suppose to be physiological not psychological in the last post. I do not think you will be denied for tinnitus but if you are appeal it (Initial success, doesn't apply in the VA) Heck, just include a job description that should do it. I received mine 3 years ago and I was discharged in 98 so it shouldn't worry you about how long it's been. Hearing, however, is another story I have seen people with hearing aides get denied and others without them get it. If I can help in anyway let me know.

Hey EODCMC, Class 9235 in Coronado then went EOD in 96. Tinnitus is presumptive for both our ratings. I submitted it with my TT6 medbay report I suffered in 93. Squeezes were not a big deal so you probably didn't have a med report for any of them but just stated it, it should be a no brainer for the noise exposures we were around. Also on a psychological level our otoconia were screwed with at depth I am sure. It's relatively new find so I am sure it won't help our generation much but "hears" hoping. My tinnitus sucks and 10% is a joke but it's all good I suppose. Nice to read another dual pin guy here, take it easy. Dan

Then you need to get a doctor to address that in writing in regards to your claim. Quitting your job without it is a huge gamble, if a doctor will not write it up you are taking a chance that the VA will also question it. This is your life, your choice, I am just laying out how claims usually work and how to make sure you are putting forth the best claim you can. Dan

Also under most circumstances quitting your job to apply for TDIU is not going to be favorable to your claim. Only time I can forsee is if you have a doctor tell (in writing) you that quitting is in the interest of your health because your SC disabilities are having such an adverse affect. My advice is do not quit unless you have a doctor advising (in writing) you to do so.

I do not know much about other military ratings, but in mine I do not think many escaped without some moderate disabilities after 20 years. In the the military as a whole very few can escape injury it is inherent in the job description. The system in place allows for those to achieve some compensation for service. My very first post on this site was made in a very, very angry mindset. I can't remember if I posted the exact reason, but I can tell you it was because another service member was asking me to get a bike and go on a wounded warrior ride (teacher asked me to share my VA experience) we were in the same class going thru VocRehab. We got to talking and I found out he was rated 60% for knees and feet (or its what he shared). I was getting 20% for a bunch of things and I was extremely ticked. My anger was directed at the VA, and I still have some major anger issues because I was discharged with active injuries that were left untreated and cost me a lot of my health. I feel I am at the top of the people able to voice a qualified opinion on this subject: Yes I think every retiring service member should be able to be compensated for each injury sustained in service. My wife asks me to hold my opinion in a lot because I my frustration bubbles up quite often, I see quite a few VA ratings that are not accurate in both good and bad directions. I was asked to volunteer multiple times to become a VSO by the Legion because I had claims already set up for the vets when I sent them to the VSO. This site was the single path that allowed me to help others, and myself. I have rejected to help a number of vets after listening to their history, not because I didn't think they could get a rating; but because I felt after listening to them I believed them to be tying after service injuries to service time and it is my time so I can refuse. However I always referred them to a VSO because it's not my job to judge anyone no matter how much I might know or believe.

I don't think anyone is not grateful for our compensation. But there are those of us that cannot do the things in life that we want. I cannot play with my young kids, do any vigorous activities with my family who is very active. I spent large amounts of time at the doctors missing my kids school activities. This list goes on for far too long. So although I am thankful for the monetary help I get from the VA, this life holds very little joy outside of my family; and I look forward to glory far, far more than being in this world. What the VA offers is monetary benefits and it is wonderful but it isn't the life a lot of us shout for joy about. Kudos for you helping others and I truly am happy that your quality of life isn't shot, and I hope it never is. Enjoy it but don't bag on others because theirs is not to the level of yours and you think they are being sour.

No brother there is no "it could be worse". It is what it is. You know by now your not weak, it sucks what happens. But each case is not lesser or greater. It just, is what it is. Great job on the therapy, keep your claim active don't give up. And just remember don't take it personally there is just some BS that is happening not against you personally.

I can tell you that my story is similar, and you will get what you need it may take time. How mine was similar was that I suffered a AGE during a routine dive that turned into a rescue of a distressed diver. I suffered physical trauma from the extraction of the diver. I spent over 12 hours in the tube with 3 extensions. All of this was documented; after the treatment I suffered migraines that were noted but never complained much about because I was told I would lose my pin. A year later I was sent to EOD school as "award" for my service (and I did want this very much). A week before graduation i was hit by a drunk driver that was documented going 80+ miles per hour. He knocked me onto base with over 25 witnesses. After all treatments and therapy, MRI that showed 'lesions' on my brain (but it was noted that it was years of exposure at depth as a second class diver that was the cause. This turned out to be BS it was my head going thru a window.) I was deemed unfit for duty, recommended that I have surgery on my back which I declined, I was still urinating blood but they couldn't find out why (yes I was discharged with this condition still unresolved). Years later my kidneys were starting to shut down they did surgery and found a bone fragment wrapped in scar tissue that came from by hip and lodged in my urethra they took pictures and the doctors had a shit fit when I showed them the documents that the military discharged me while I still had this condition. My point is all of this I was discharged at 20%. Yep all that with documentation and 20%, another guy got 20 for twisting his knee during volleyball. Took me 10 years to calm down enough for my wife to force me to file again. Keep on pushing by keeping your claim open as a PH recipient you will get your claim resolved in a positive way of that there is not doubt. Don't let the anger eat at you like I did it wasn't healthy and caused more problems for me. My goal is to let you know that some serious BS happens in these claims sometimes for reason I can't begin to fathom. But you will get what you deserve, try to not take it personal there are many of us that were hosed. Dan

I'm not very politically and do not care to be so especially on this subject. Personally I think this door shouldn't be opened. Why, because it is the duty of our military to face danger and to accept it. Give even the slight hope of getting out of that leaves the door open for people to "sustain" injuries or fake PTSD episodes to get out of the duty they VOLUNTEERED for and then get benefits on top of it... There is appeal processes for OTH already, clear that up then go after the VA. This of course is only my opinion.

I am very sure if you are TDIU P&T your dental is covered. There is a retired VA dental guy that also stated that 100% Sched and TDIU P&T vets are included in dental benefits. Here is a link that may help http://statesidelegal.org/tdiu-100-benefit-equal-every-way-schedular-100 There is alot of misinformation in the VA health care, just load up with knowledge and don't take no. I hope it helps.

I can only speak for my claim on the request from employers. I had not worked in quite awhile so when the VA sent the requests out none of my employers filled them out. So I responded with all my information (when the VA sent me a letter requesting that information about employment history). Personally I just filled it out and submitted it, I stated the date and time and telephone and person I talked to when I called to ask the employers to fill it out the form. I filled them out 4 different times, as they kept sending me letters on the request to get them to sign it. I just kept calling my past employers and writing the date, time, and person I talked to then submitted them to the VA. I was stuck in that stage for about a year and as far as I know they never returned the form. My case was granted without the employers submitting them, I hope that helps.

If the VA will do implants get them. I have family in the dental profession and a couple of them paid for implants they love them. They have most of their teeth they didn't need to get all pulled. It is a very long process 6-8 months total depending on what they have to do. I am quite sure there are other companies that state they do them quicker but I was told 6 months should be the benchmark. I am sure you can google the proceedures, but I can tell you the people I know, without doubt, love them.

Rootbeer: I have had a time with the Seattle RO, they lost records and needed to set up a re-examine. I will say the QTC doc in Tuq was outstanding. When she found out that the VA lost her examine from 8 months prior she called them and chewed on them abit while I was there. She also putting in a claim for my kidneys that I didn't put in. So hopefully you get professional service from people there, I did. Most claim issues I found are from lazy people or people not trained properly. Probably the same thing happened to you as it did to me. It sucks but just look at it as a bigger retro check. Vern: From what I understand hearing is very hard to get hard to get rated; and I only speculate, that it is probably because most (including me in my tinnitus claim) put in for it so late after service and everybody has hearing damage as we age so it gets harder to prove. I think why they rated me (0% hearing, 10% tinnitus) was because I had a documented event in my service records of a traumatic sound event that left my ears ringing and my exit hearing exam show some loss at certain db's. As for the tinnitus if you have it you will know, mine wasn't bad until 4 years ago just a slight ringing from the service days. To be honest I kind of grown use to it until it cranked up by a factor of 50 now I can't even drown it out with the TV, 4 years later and it still bugs me. Good luck with your claims and God bless. Dan

Been there for my SC hearing 0% I never filed for a hearing loss claim, but I did file for tinnitus (granted) that is why I was there. The lady was very professional didn't talk much (which I liked). She stated they do not have the means to test for tinnitus so she gave me a hearing exam and pressure tests. I know vets personally with earring aides and they are 0% for SC hearing loss, so take that for what it is worth. My opinion is if you don't wear aides don't expect anything over a 0%. I figure is good to have it encase the hearing totally craps out. I am sure tanker is on the presumed list that you were prone to tinnitus then you should be good if you filed for that (But I am sure you knew that already).

Ted, Don't worry about lost money, sorry to read about your troubles. I myself was med discharged in 98 at 20% and told by many people to file for a upgrade over the years. If I added up the money I lost it would be quite abit. We are all wired different, and any disabilities suffered from service are bad mental or physical and really who of us wants any of these problems. One thing I will say is what I learned, nothing is a give-me regardless of evidence. So prepare yourself for the long haul and do not give up. Thats not to say people don't get ratings fast and postive. I had first hand accounts of all my injuries each were well documented during duty, I was told when I signed my discharge papers in 98 that I should have been 80% and should fight the rating I got. Like I said we are all wired different. I bring this up because some can dwell on all the lost money or opportunities, don't; It is what it is. I hope and pray yours resolves quickly and you get a positive adjudication. If not do not give up.