biggjonn75

Hi  All:
I got out of the Navy in 1980. In the heat of Orlando at Nuclear Power School, under fluorescent lights, I developed ophthalmic migraines. I was an MM-3. They said I could stay in as a Yeoman or a Hospital-man. At 6'4" 240 lbs, it didn't make sense. They voided my contract and I took an honorable medical discharge. I got a 10 % rating. I went to a year of college, under Voc. Rehab; got the 1st coed I met pregnant, and dropped out to make some money. I came in 1st on the local Fire Department test, and afraid they would think I couldn't work around heat, I voluntarily gave back my 10%. (OK - guys and gals ... breathe slowly into the paper bag until the light headed-ness  goes away.)
I never joined the Fire Department, for the same reason I didn't become a hospital man, I can't stand someone else's blood. I joined the Post Office, then transferred to the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller. I got my back hurt at the tower in 1990. They put me on disability. I stayed on OWCP  for 5 years. My kids were getting bigger, and instead of the $4,000 a month I made as a controller, I was down to $1,800. I gave up a second disability compensation, and became a Realtor. l made great money ... sometimes. My best year I made $157,000. I also bar-tended most of those years. I got most of my clients from the bars. During the last recession, the real estate business stopped. I took a job at Best Buy, worked at the VFW as a bar tender, and did a karaoke show on Fridays.  I quit Best Buy 4 years later and both bars closed shortly thereafter. In 2012, the VRAP program was instituted for unemployed veterans. It gave  us 12 months of school. I got my associates degree, but while I was there my ophthalmic migraines began again. I applied to the VA and got back my 10% rating. They'd never heard of anyone giving it back before ... it only took a month or so. When my 12 months of VRAP were over, I called Voc Rehab and asked how much time I had remaining in Voc. Rehab from the 90's. They gave me 3 more years, 
I graduated with a BA from UMASS in 2 years as an accountant. During the 3 years of school, my eyes got more out of whack (My Cousin Vinny). I did most classes online and that aggravated it. I applied and received an upgrade to 30% and then 50%. I had picked accounting because of my back problems. I now couldn't do it because of my eye problems: discerning 6's from 0's and 8's or 1's from 7's was impossible. So I went to an VA eye exam on 06/27/16. They burned out my eyes. For the last year it's been constant, persistent migraines in the left one, and all sorts of weird stuff on the right. I had to stop driving. I can't sleep.  I am antisocial, grouchy, and mean. In November 2016, I applied for unemployabliity. I used our state veteran's rep. and it only took 8 months. First I got 10% for tinnitus. Everything else was deferred. 17 days ago I had a C & P exam for depression. I was never depressed before. Today, one year and a day from the eye exam from hell, I received 30% for Depression and I do not have to be reevaluated. The total was 68% rounded up top 70% and met the threshold for unemployability and 100%.
Why so fast? I spelled out everything and kept a daily journal of what was happening. I went to the right people, and had the doctors on my side. And I was always respectful and nice to everyone. The girl that messed up my eyes felt terrible ... I was nice.
Last week I was in Providence and a diabetic veteran, missing half a foot, was screaming at the poor young lady behind the window.  An idiot. I worked 40 years as a bouncer and bartender and never fought. I was always nice, even when I could have hurt them. The last fight I was in (not working) I punched an idiot in the mouth. I got blood poisoning from his filthy tooth. I've been nice ever since.

Hi  All:
I got out of the Navy in 1980. In the heat of Orlando at Nuclear Power School, under fluorescent lights, I developed ophthalmic migraines. I was an MM-3. They said I could stay in as a Yeoman or a Hospital-man. At 6'4" 240 lbs, it didn't make sense. They voided my contract and I took an honorable medical discharge. I got a 10 % rating. I went to a year of college, under Voc. Rehab; got the 1st coed I met pregnant, and dropped out to make some money. I came in 1st on the local Fire Department test, and afraid they would think I couldn't work around heat, I voluntarily gave back my 10%. (OK - guys and gals ... breathe slowly into the paper bag until the light headed-ness  goes away.)
I never joined the Fire Department, for the same reason I didn't become a hospital man, I can't stand someone else's blood. I joined the Post Office, then transferred to the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller. I got my back hurt at the tower in 1990. They put me on disability. I stayed on OWCP  for 5 years. My kids were getting bigger, and instead of the $4,000 a month I made as a controller, I was down to $1,800. I gave up a second disability compensation, and became a Realtor. l made great money ... sometimes. My best year I made $157,000. I also bar-tended most of those years. I got most of my clients from the bars. During the last recession, the real estate business stopped. I took a job at Best Buy, worked at the VFW as a bar tender, and did a karaoke show on Fridays.  I quit Best Buy 4 years later and both bars closed shortly thereafter. In 2012, the VRAP program was instituted for unemployed veterans. It gave  us 12 months of school. I got my associates degree, but while I was there my ophthalmic migraines began again. I applied to the VA and got back my 10% rating. They'd never heard of anyone giving it back before ... it only took a month or so. When my 12 months of VRAP were over, I called Voc Rehab and asked how much time I had remaining in Voc. Rehab from the 90's. They gave me 3 more years, 
I graduated with a BA from UMASS in 2 years as an accountant. During the 3 years of school, my eyes got more out of whack (My Cousin Vinny). I did most classes online and that aggravated it. I applied and received an upgrade to 30% and then 50%. I had picked accounting because of my back problems. I now couldn't do it because of my eye problems: discerning 6's from 0's and 8's or 1's from 7's was impossible. So I went to an VA eye exam on 06/27/16. They burned out my eyes. For the last year it's been constant, persistent migraines in the left one, and all sorts of weird stuff on the right. I had to stop driving. I can't sleep.  I am antisocial, grouchy, and mean. In November 2016, I applied for unemployabliity. I used our state veteran's rep. and it only took 8 months. First I got 10% for tinnitus. Everything else was deferred. 17 days ago I had a C & P exam for depression. I was never depressed before. Today, one year and a day from the eye exam from hell, I received 30% for Depression and I do not have to be reevaluated. The total was 68% rounded up top 70% and met the threshold for unemployability and 100%.
Why so fast? I spelled out everything and kept a daily journal of what was happening. I went to the right people, and had the doctors on my side. And I was always respectful and nice to everyone. The girl that messed up my eyes felt terrible ... I was nice.
Last week I was in Providence and a diabetic veteran, missing half a foot, was screaming at the poor young lady behind the window.  An idiot. I worked 40 years as a bouncer and bartender and never fought. I was always nice, even when I could have hurt them. The last fight I was in (not working) I punched an idiot in the mouth. I got blood poisoning from his filthy tooth. I've been nice ever since.

Tinnitus is one of those things that can be tested for in some circumstances since it can be caused by certain damage to the ear and its associated parts. However self reported tinnitus (ie i hear ringing in my ears) without any physical damage to the associate parts (im not a doctor and dont remember the exact lingo) does happen alot to people who are exposed to loud noises often. Its impossible to disprove since its a subjective report. where you get 0% or 10% (10% is maximum allowed by law) is how it affects you. If you are impaired by it, say by having to have things repeated, it keeps you up at night and you need the tv on or white noise to fall asleep. if you report ringing in your ears but there is no impact, ie you sleep fine, it doesnt bother you etc. you will get 0%.

hearing loss and tinnitus can be related but one is not required for the other. I have hearing loss, from my MEPS audiogram to my current ther is a significant change HOWEVER it is wihtin what the VA considers nomral limits still (tell that to my wife and co workers that i can hear fine...). I was denied bilateral hearing loss but was granted 10% tinnitus. Remember that you also can get hearing aids if you have tinnitus. They gave me ones that are for helping hearing but also produce a fine white noise to help with tinnitus, so the hearing aids help with my hearing but was for tinnitus so im happy with it since i got what i needed to help me hear better, albeit in a roundabout way.

As far as your civilian doctor goes... tell them that they need to give you a report about your hearing and tinnitus that uses the words "more likely than not" related to loud noises experience in service during combat operations. If you leave it vague, like "could have" that can be interpreted as being less than 50% sure, if so than no dice son.

what was your MOS? if you were field artillery, anything involving a job that was around loid noises, mechanic, artillery, engineer, etc.

having the CAB will help alot to establish in service nexus.

whats your aduiogram say? are you within VA limits for "normal range" of hearing, if so, you will jsut need to wait 20 years to refile when your hearing is gone gone.