tinnitus Tinnititus

[5of7Vets]

i am new to the sight and wanted to express Wow to the vast amout of knowledge that is posted to this web site. We have lots of Veterans here in OK that are trying to work this process. Yes i have passed it on.

my first experience:

Applied for Tinnitus and BiLateral hearing loss, well long story short VA disapproved both claims. Ok i waited awhile and then reread the denial for Tinnitus which stated, "your personal medical records showed you played trumpet in a swing band". True i do but what i know now is i forgot to state i played in the Drum & Bugle Corp at Lackland for 5 weeks and using their horns. We played at retreats, parades, and San Antonio's 150 yr celebration.

Question: I provided a NOD per my Veteran support org and provided the certificate of playing in their band. Are my chances any better at getting Tinnitus overturned? I now sleep with a white noise device and have sent doctor statement back to VA also stating Tinnitus.

Still new to this.

[simple fly]

welcome jeff,

glad you finally made it over here.there will someone along shortly to help you out.

jim

[mags1023]

i am new to the sight and wanted to express Wow to the vast amout of knowledge that is posted to this web site. We have lots of Veterans here in OK that are trying to work this process. Yes i have passed it on.

my first experience:

Applied for Tinnitus and BiLateral hearing loss, well long story short VA disapproved both claims. Ok i waited awhile and then reread the denial for Tinnitus which stated, "your personal medical records showed you played trumpet in a swing band". True i do but what i know now is i forgot to state i played in the Drum & Bugle Corp at Lackland for 5 weeks and using their horns. We played at retreats, parades, and San Antonio's 150 yr celebration.

Question: I provided a NOD per my Veteran support org and provided the certificate of playing in their band. Are my chances any better at getting Tinnitus overturned? I now sleep with a white noise device and have sent doctor statement back to VA also stating Tinnitus.

Still new to this.

5 of 7, Welcome to hadit. I am rated at 10% for tinnitus. What was your job in the military? Were you around jets, turbines, any occupational noise hazards?? What does your Dr's statement indicate? Does it provide a nexus to anything your encountered during your service. Sorry for the questions, but we need a little info on the background of how you acquired tinnitus. Any mention of hearing problems while in the service in your service medical records?

[5of7Vets]

What was your job in the military? Printer system operator, (diddy bot)

Were you around jets, turbines, any occupational noise hazards?? Negative just printers and radio noise, wore headsets 8hrs a day.

What does your Dr's statement indicate? I will have to get it later

Does it provide a nexus to anything your encountered during your service. When we filled was not even aware of Nexus, however my Audiologist did state "it is as likely as not" that the gun fire at Lackland created this. I was a city boy and never had weapons of any sort.

Any mention of hearing problems while in the service in your service medical records? I only had one exam in 1978 in which everything had a line through it. No exit exam of any sort and yes i have my medical records. My next job was with Dept of Defense and they required a hearing test showing in 1980 i had a hearing loss. I understand it is almost impossible to get hearing but the ringing in one hearing impedes my ability to sleep so the white noise.

[broncovet]

You have what you need to get your claim approved! Your audiologist statement might need a little tweaking..make sure he or she states these EXACT WORDS, "Veterans hearing loss most likely as a result of military service" (such as "gunfire at Lackland").

My hearing loss was declined by the Cleveland Regional Office and declined again by the decision review officer. The BVA, however, weighed most heavily on the audiologists opinion, and not the unsubstantiated guess of the rating specialist. This is why we Vets say that the VARO has rubber stamps of "claim denied".

There has to be compelling evidence to overturn your audiologists opinion. A rating specialists opinion that has never tested your hearing is NOT that compelling evidence. They would have to order TWO comp and pension audio exams and both of the audiologists state to the effect that your music caused the hearing loss, and not the military, in order to "overturn" your audiologists opinion. The reason it would take TWO is because your lawyer can argue to "favor the Veteran" rule..if 2 docs offer differing opinions, the rule says they must accept the opinion most favorable to the Veteran. It is called "the doctrine of equipose"...if you can prove there is a 50/50 chance it happened, then regulations require the Veteran be given the benefit of the doubt. However, be careful, because if your doc says "hearing loss may have been caused by military service" it will be declined, because that is speculative, and benefits are not awarded on "maybe" something happened.

You audiologist is your friend and they hooked you up. It is Very difficult to get some of them to say that..even if it is true.

I recommend you carefully prepare a "Statement in Support of Claim" ..for your appeal. Explain why your hearing loss was caused by the military..(you shot guns at Lackland and played the trumpet in the military band..you also listened every day to loud printer system noises..if that is the case) Also explain why it was not caused with your civilian career. For example, if you worked in an office as a civilian that was much quieter room than your military printer job, state so! You may also explain things like, none of your family members suffer hearing loss, etc, etc.

Edited January 9, 2009 by broncovet

[5of7Vets]

Thanks, i know from what i have read that it is tough..

Here are the words she used: The diagnosis for this patient is binaural hearing loss and tinnitus. After reviewing the veteran's service history it is just as likely as not that at least some of the veterans hearing loss and tinnitus are the result of his exposure to hazardous noise while in the service.

The ringing and hearing loss is prevelant in my left ear only and to date am wearing a hearing aid in that ear.

Word recognition - recorded maryland CNC Word lists 88% @ 55db HL in the right ear and 90% @ 70db Hl in the left...

You have what you need to get your claim approved! Your audiologist statement might need a little tweaking..make sure he or she states these EXACT WORDS, "Veterans hearing loss most likely as a result of military service" (such as "gunfire at Lackland").

My hearing loss was declined by the Cleveland Regional Office and declined again by the decision review officer. The BVA, however, weighed most heavily on the audiologists opinion, and not the unsubstantiated guess of the rating specialist. This is why we Vets say that the VARO has rubber stamps of "claim denied".

There has to be compelling evidence to overturn your audiologists opinion. A rating specialists opinion that has never tested your hearing is NOT that compelling evidence. They would have to order TWO comp and pension audio exams and both of the audiologists state to the effect that your music caused the hearing loss, and not the military, in order to "overturn" your audiologists opinion. The reason it would take TWO is because your lawyer can argue to "favor the Veteran" rule..if 2 docs offer differing opinions, the rule says they must accept the opinion most favorable to the Veteran. It is called "the doctrine of equipose"...if you can prove there is a 50/50 chance it happened, then regulations require the Veteran be given the benefit of the doubt. However, be careful, because if your doc says "hearing loss may have been caused by military service" it will be declined, because that is speculative, and benefits are not awarded on "maybe" something happened.

You audiologist is your friend and they hooked you up. It is Very difficult to get some of them to say that..even if it is true.

I recommend you carefully prepare a "Statement in Support of Claim" ..for your appeal. Explain why your hearing loss was caused by the military..(you shot guns at Lackland and played the trumpet in the military band..you also listened every day to loud printer system noises..if that is the case) Also explain why it was not caused with your civilian career. For example, if you worked in an office as a civilian that was much quieter room than your military printer job, state so! You may also explain things like, none of your family members suffer hearing loss, etc, etc.